1890 



51ST Congress, » HOUSE OF EEPKESENTATIVES. i Ex*. Doc. 

' 1st Session. ) \ No. 110. 



WOMEN'S SILK CULTURE ASSOCIATION. 



LETTER 



THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, 



TRANSMITTING 



Reports upon the operations of the Womeifi's Silk Culture Association of 
the United /States and of the Ladies^ Silk Culture Society of California, 
and upon experiments made in the District of Columbia with silk-reel- 
ing machinery. 



January 16, 1890. — Referred to the Committee on Agriculture aud ordered to be 

pnuted. 



Department of Aoriculture, 

Office of the Secretary, 
Washington, D. C, January 14, 1890. 
Sir: The act of Congress approved July 18, 1888, requires, among 
other duties, that the Secretary of Agriculture shall transmit to Con- 
gress reports of the expenditures and the results obtained by the Wo- 
men's Silk Culture Association of the United States, and by the Ladies' 
Silk Culture Society of California, in their exx>eriments for the en- 
couragement and development of the culture of raw silk. It also re- 
quires the Secretary to transmit a report of experiments made in the 
District of Columbia with automatic silk-reeling machinery, and also 
of all sales of silk and silk waste, and purchases of cocoons, with the 
names and residences of all producers of cocoons of whom purchases 
are made. In accordance with these requirements, I have the honor to 
transmit herewith copies of said reports for the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1889. 

The act of Congress approved March 2, 1889, requires that Joseph 
Neumann shall report to Congress thorough the Secretary of Agricult- 
ure, on or about the 1st day of January, 1890, the results of his ex- 
periments with the wild native silk-worm of California. I have the 
honor to transmit herewith the report of the said Joseph Neumann. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. M. EUSK, 

Secretary. 
Hon. Thos. B. Reep, 

Speaker House of Representatives. 



.l^^'n^ 



REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS MADE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

United States Department of 

Agriculture, Silk Section, 
Washington, I). C, January 6, 1890. 

Sir : I have tlie bouor to hand you herewith my report upon the 
experiments with automatic pilk-reeling machinery which have been con- 
ducted in this Department, which should be forwarded to Congress in 
accordance with the i)rovision of the act approved July 18, 1888, "mak- 
ing appropriation for the Department of Agriculture, and for other 
purposes." 

The genera] object of the experiments which we have been making 
under the authority of that act has been to improve and make ])racti- 
cable for work in the United States the Serrell automatic silk-reel. 
This is the only automatic silk-reel which exists, and there was there- 
fore no option on the i)art of the Department whether it or another 
should be adopted as a basis of experiments. At the beginning of the 
last fiscal year the experimental silk filature was at a standstill 
because the machine of which we had secured drawings from Europe 
had not succeeded as well as we had hoped, and experiments were then 
in train with a view to making it work. There are two main parts of 
the automatic silk-reel. The control movement measures the thread 
and, when the latter becomes too small, sets in operation an electric 
current by which the feed movement is put in motion and a cocoon 
added to the thread. The first object of my experiments was to pro- 
duce a feed movement which should be absolutely automatic and do 
away with the great amount of labor which was entailed by filling by 
hand the magazine used in the original automatic reel. This object has 
been attained, and a feed movement which works successfully has been 
constructed and six of them are now ready to be put in operation. 
The control movement made during the previous fiscal year, while it 
works to a certain degree of satisfaction, was not all that could be 
desired, and a new one has therefore been designed which does much 
better. Two machines are now in operation with these new movements 
and they are doing satisfactory work. It is not improbable that there 
may yet be. found some details which will need correcting, but as far 
as can be seen the main difficulties have been overcome. 

It is important that it should be understood that the improvements 
which have been mentioned do not in any way involve any change of 
principle of invention. On the contrary, they are improvements of 
mechanical details, the principle of the original automatic machine 
having been adhered to. as it is felt that that principle is the only good 
one and the one upon which the automatic silk-reel of the future will 
be based. That a thoroughly automatic silk-reel is a possibility is a 
matter of which there can be no question. That it is a necessity for 
the United States is equally indisputable. It is important that the 
reels as now constructed should be given a thorough trial and that im- 



''''T^fe^inii?Tf-~ 



^ 



-^ ■ V^ WOMEN S SILK CULTURE ASSOCIATION. 



provements of details should be coutinued until a machine is con- 
S^ structed which will be not only as nearly perfect as possible in the 
performance of its functions, but also as simple in its nitchauical 
details and as difiticult of (leranj>ement as it can be made. Under ex- 
isting instructions I shall deem it my duty to follow out a line of 
experiments tending towards this end. 

I transmit herewith a list of the names and addresses of all persons 
from whom we have purchased cocoons during the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1889, and the amount purchased from each, togetlier with a state- 
ment of the sales of raw silk and waste which have been made in 
accordance with law. 

Yours respectfully, 

Philip Walker, 
Chief of the Silk Section. 
Hon. J. M. Eusk, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 



Report of purchases of cocoons and sales of silk during the fiscal year 1888-'89. 

PURCHASES. 

Total quantity of dry cocoons purchased 2,421 pounds, 9 ounces. 

Amount paid therefor |2, 138. 03 

Average price per pound .88 



Raw silk to Bekling Bros. & Co., New York, June 14, 1889, 133^ 

pounds, at $3.60 per pound $480. 60 

Waste to Cheney Bros., S. Manchester, Conn., March 27, 1889: 

Waste silk, 107^ pounds, at 81 cents $87.08 

Unreelable cocoons, 209f pounds, at "45 cents per pound 94. 44 

Partly reeled cocoons, 129i pounds, at 36 cents per pound 46. 53 

228. 05 

Total sales 708.65 



/" 



4 WOMENS SILK CULTURE ASSOCL\TION. 

List of persons from iihom cocoons were p%r chased during the fiscal year 1888-89, togeth 
with their addresses, quantities purchased, and sums paid therejor. 



Name. 



Adelaide E. McKellips 

Laura Harrison 

F.E. Miller 

Mrs. A. W.Smith 

L. Addie Gaston 

Frank Warren 

Mrs. M. T. Morton 

A.E.Webb 

B. Gnyral 

Louie E. Mathie w 

George Mitchel 

J. S. Ramsey - . 

Carrie Price 

A.E.Axtell 

James Prit chard 

Ag. Legrevp 

F. Grambarth 

C. V. Ritter .., 

Fannie Jenkins 

Lizzie Walters 

C. B. Berkenkamp 

Mrs. Z. P. Moses 

Eleanor Lever 

Otto J. E. Urban 

Hannah Seavev 

M. V. McGaugh 

Joseph Debangh 

Mathias Schneider 

Mary A. Fox 

George A. Light 

M. A. White 

W. T. Dix 

Pearl Murdock 

T.Vf. Glenn 

J. A. Crittenden 

L. Vial 

M. K. Murdock 

Adam Clark 

B. M. Ruflfner 

Ellen A. Cook 

Alice Tucker 

Clara Slough 

W. M. Cummings 

B. M. Brassfield 

Martlia Withers 

G. M. Clements 

Josephine S. Brown 

O. C. Burgess 

E. P. Keown — 

Mrs. Uelisle A. Whitfield . . . 

Mrs. Delia Jennings 

Mrs. M. J. Ingrem . . . 

Mrs. Saiab J. Atherson 

Cora Douglas 

Mrs. L. E. Harris 

Hilton Vaughn 

Hans Rasmus 

Miss Daisy Henderson 

Mrs. H. C. Hackley 

G. G. Harman 

Mrs. Geo. Thurston 

Mrs. K. Harmon 

Mrs. C. M. Busey 

Mrs. Jane E. Hancock . .' 

Nettie Painter 

Mrs. Sarah O. Fiscus 

Jas.L. Webb 

Dr. D. A. Friesen 

Wm. H. Collings.. 

Andrew J. Dolph". 

S. Y. Morrow 

Mrs. J. J. Bartlett 

Mrs. Clara Mason 

Miss Lizzie Bell 

Miss Cora Douglas 

Mrs. Mary T. Newkirk 

Mrs. A. E. Rieke 

W. E. Hatchinson 



Address. 



Town. 



Westville 

Eureka 

Moore 

Petersburgh 

Duncan's 

Grand Bay 

Bell wood 

Crockett 

Ra^ ne Station 

Covington 

Leesburgli 

Oconee Mills 

Kosse 

Fleming 

Quincy 

Winter Park 

New Orleans 

Apopka 

Camden 

Lakeside 

do 

Sumter 

.Waldo 

Thorndale 

Harrell's Store 

Collirene 

Reading 

Pinckney ville 

Coffey ville 

.Savers 

Durango 

Frederick sburgh _.. 

Oxford 

Mauldin Station 

Greenfield 

Cave City 

Sheppardtown 

Wa.shington 

Orlando 

Lake City 

Daw.sou 

Daytona 

Jefi'erson 

Livingston 

Orange City 

Monticello 

Huntington 

Central Plains 

Graysville 

Strabane , 

Patoka , 

EUaville 1 

Science Hill 

Coffey ville 

Detroit 

W^alkers ville 

Coming 

Croft 

Martin Station 

Huntingdon 

Lookout 

Regret 

Champaign 

Paris 

Rockingham 

MtOrab 

Anderson 

Jansen 

Raji;own 

Rising Sun 

Fayetteville 

Tampa 

Edge Hill 

Clover 

Coffej' ville 

Ivanhoe 

Texas 

Long Lane 



County. 



State. 



La Porte 

Marion 

Spartan bnigh 

Dinwiddie 

Spartanburgh 

Mobile 

Butler 

Houston 

Arcadia 

St. Tammany 

Lake 

Hall 

Limestone 

Liberty 

Gadsden 

Orange 

Orleans 

Orange 

Wikox 

Clay 

do 

Sumter 

Alachua 

Milan 

Sampson 

Lowndes 

Lyons 

Perry 

Montgomery 

Bexar 

Falls 

Spottsylvania 

Sumter 

Greenville 

Dade 

Barren 

Le Flore 

Washington , 

Prince William. . 

Columbia 

Terrell 

Volusia 

Marion 

Sumter 

Volusia 

Jasper 

Putnam 

Flnvanna 

Catoosa 

Lenoir 

Marion 

Schley 

Pulaski 

Montgomery 

Wayne 

Greene ville 

Nemaha 

Mecklenburg 

Dallas 

Huntingdon 

Pettis 

McMinn 

Champaign 

Lamar 

Rockingham 

Brown 

Madison 

Jefferson 

Jackson 

Ohio 

Washington 

Hillsborough 

King George 

York 

Montgomery 

Sampson. .' 

Heard 

Dallas 



Ind . . . 
Fla... 
S.C... 

Va 

S.C... 
Ala... 
Nebr . 
Tex... 
La.... 

La 

Fla . . . 
Ga.... 
Tex... 

Ga 

Fla . . . 

Fla . . . 

La.... 

Fla . . . 

Ala... 

Fla... 

Fla . . . 

S.C... 

Fla . . . 

Tex... 

N. C. 

Ala... 

Kaus . 

111.... 

Kans . 

Tex .. 

Tex .. 

Va.... 

Fla .. 

S.C... 

Mo. .. 

Ky .. 

Miss . 

D. C 

Va.... 

Fla. .. 

Ga.... 

Fla . . . 

Tex... 

Ala .. 

Fla... 

Ga... 

Fla. .. 

Va.... 

Ga.... 

N.C.. 

HI.... 

Ga.... 

Ky.... 

Kans . 

Mich.. 

S.C... 

Kans.. 

N.C.. 

Ala... 

Pa.... 

Mo. . . . 

Tenn . 

m.... 

Tex... 
Va.... 
Ohio.. 
Ind - . . 
Nebr. . 
Mo. . . . 
Ind... 
Ark... 
Fla . . . 
Va.... 
S.C... 
Kans . 
N.C.. 
Ga.... 
Mo ... 



women's silk culture association. 5 

List of persons from whom cocoons were purchased during 1888-'89, etc. — Coutinued. 



Name. 



Address. 



Town. 



Miss Nannie G. Reynolds 

Mrs. Scott Brown 

Xiizzie Smith 

Edgar E. Farrett 

Mrs. M. A. Rogers 

MissM. P. Bailey 

Mrs. P. M. Kenner 

Do 

H. T. Harlee 

Mrs. A. J Mercer 

L. S. Crozier 

Miss Jennie Rosamond... 

Mrs. F. M. Case. 

Theo. Flentjen 

Mrs. Mary P. Jones 

Leon Paliud 

Mrs. MatliildeSchaeffei'. . 

Miss M. 1. Taylor 

Mrs. Lubrina Eads 

Mrs. Elizabeth Lawry 

Geo. H. Rice 

Mrs. Mattie Eiok 

David Jones 

Miss Flora E. Ralph . 

Peter Joseph Schraitz 

Miss Laura Chapman .... 

Mrs. J. E. Glailish 

Miss He.ssie C. Brown ... 

Nellie Fay 

Lottie Fay 

Mrs. A. I. Sherwood 

Mrs. C. M.Wilson 

Miss Elizabeth C. Frazer. 

Miss Mollie E. Miller 

Mrs. Minnie ("oruelius 

Miss Edith M. Hewitt. ... 

J. J. McCoy 

F. W. Schunjacher ' De Witt 

Miss L. M. Inoin Irwin 

Martin Mayer Conaiit 

John A. Richenbacher j Gahanna . 

Miss S. E. Howe ] Chambeisburgh 

Miss Bettie Hines : Defeated 

St. Marie 

Peach Grove 

Lindenville 

Greenwood 

Warreiisburgh . 

Ophieni 

Chalmers 

Franklin 

Mackinaw 

Appelo 

Chambersburgb 

Opelika 

Chillicothe 

Peach Bottom . 

Mauldiu 

Du Quoin 

SuTOuer 

Areola 

Paiuesville 

Bushy Creek . .. 

Areola 

Livonia 

Henderson ..... 

Ke<ikuk 

Toronto 

Wyoming 

Palatka. 



Bentivoglio 

Anderson 

Forestville. 

Newtonville . ... 

Emporia 

Lexington . . 

Sarpy 

iiars Bluff!.'".' 
New Supply . . . 

Little Rock 

Brushy Creek . 

Melvern 

San Antonio. ... 

Johnsouville 

Loreanville .... 

Boerue 

Clarksville 

Decatur 

Pott's Camp 

Bandera 

Deputy 

Wyoming 

Vinton 

New Market 

Grant Park 

HigginsvUle 

Moscow 

Franklin 

do 

Hebron 

do 

Silver Springs . . 

Outvill<^ .... 

Gardnersville . . 
Eureka Springs 
Pleasant 



County. 



State. 



Francis Althouse 

Mrs. Scott Conger 

Mrs. E. S. Fairbanks 

M. Ferguson .... . 

Miss Mollie Philips 

J. H. Samuelson 

Miss Jennie Haff 

Mrs. Mary M. Puryear . 

Ben. Lamason 

Fred. Mover 

Mrs. Ellen Weirich 

Mrs. Susan S. Sykes 

Mrs. Martha Ross. 

Mrs. Susan A. Robinson 

M.A.Owens 

N. J.Knight 

Mrs. M. Gibney 

Mrs. M. E. Fiankenfield 
Mrs. Mary L. Baker . . . 

J. W. Acker 

Mrs. Ellen Trenner 

Miss Rosy Morgan . 

Mrs Hi nrv Martin 

Rudolph Heiser 

Mrs. Kate C. Dutton... 

Mrs. I. P. (Carpenter 

Isabel W. Benet 

Owen E. Correll 1 El Dorado 

Miss Cynthia Granger { Westfield 

Mrs. Eva E. Thomas j Milroy 

Ralph Sweet | Curryville 

Miss Amanda Shelton ; Areola 

August Luckan j Fall Leaf 

W.D.CuUins Mineral Point 

Byron Carney 1 Sibley 



Albermarle Va 

Madison . Ind 

Prince George Md 

Fountain Ind 

Lyon Kans . . . 

Holmes Miss 

St. Charles La 

do • La 

Marion . . S. C 

Brunswick N. C 

Pulaski Ark 

Anderson S. C . . . . 

Osage Kana... 

Bexar Tex 

Wayne HI 

Iberia La 

Kendall Tex 

Red River Tex 

Wise Tex 

Marshall Miss 

Bandera Tex 

Jeffei'son ... .'.... Ind 

Stark Ill 

Gallia Ohio 

Scott . Minn . . . 

Kankakee Ill 

La Fayette Mo 

Clermont Ohio 

Franklin Nebr . . . 

do Nebr... 

Porter Ind 

do Ind 

Wilson Tenn... 

Licking Ohio 

Pendlelon Ky 

Carroll Ark 

Martin Ky... 

Saline Nebr . . . 

Goochland Va 

Perry Ill 

Franklin Ohio 

do Pa ... 

Smith Tenn... 

Jasper Ill 

Rockingham Va 

Ashtabula Ohio 

Moore N. C 

Johnson Mo 

Henry HI 

White Ind 

Williamson Tenn... 

Tazewell Ill 

Conway Ark 

Franklin Pa 

Lee Ala 

Ross Ohio.... 

Grayson Va 

Greenville S. C 

Peiry Ill 

Lawrence Ill 

Douglas . Ill 

Lake Ohio 

Anderson S. C 

Douglas ... Ill 

Washington Ind 

Knox II 

Lee Iowa . . . 

Woodson Kans . . . 

Stark Ill 

Putnam Fla 

Butler Kans... 

Morrow Ohio 

Rush Ind 

Pike Mo 

Douglas , 111 

Leavenworth Kans . . . 

Tuscarawas ....'.. Ohio 

Ford Ill 



Weight. 



Lht. oz. 

1 14 

2 

2 3 

3 8 

4 4 
12 

1 2 
1 12 

4 

11 
8 8 

31 12 

5 12 

1 12 

2 8 

12 

3 8 

3 4 

4 1 

1 4 
4 8 

2 
12 14 

6 6 

2 14 

3 
3 4 
6 8 
3 
2 
2 

27 10 

6 

10 4 

1 8 

1 





2 4 

3 6 

4 
12 

12 

5 
1 1 
3 

1 4 
10 8 

5 

2 8 
2 6 
2 
9 

1 8 

2 12 

3 8 

3 4 

4 8 

2 12 
4 12 
7 

3 



3 4 

3 
9 

4 8 
4 12 
3 10 
3 

14 4 
2 10 

1 2 

2 8 
2 4 

2 

3 
26 8 

8 
2 4 
2 8 



Value. 



$1.59 
2.00 
1.75 
3.50 
L70 
.67 
1.18 
1.83 
4.20 

11.00 
8.50 

27.67 
6.03 
1.22 
2.75 
9.71 
3.15 
2.92 
4.67 
.75 
4.5o 
2.10 

12.06 
6.69 
2.12 
1.50 
3.25 
6.50 
2.40 
l.tiO 
2.10 

27.28 
26 
8.20 
L35 
50 
2.25 
3.37 
4.20 

12.60 

75 

4.37 

52 

3.00 

1.12 

11.02 
5.25 
2.62 
2.25 
2.10 
8.90 
1.50 
1.78 
3.67 
3.57 
4.72 
2.75 
4.75 
7.35 
3.00 
3.41 
2.55 
9.45 
4.72 
5.22 
3.62 
3.15 

14.25 
2.36 
.56 
2.62 
2. 13 
2.10 
3.15 

26.50 

.40 

2.25 

1.62 



6 women's silk culture association. 

Li8t of persona from whom cocoons were ]^rchased during 1888-'89, etc. — Continued. 



Kame. 






Hulda Whitington 

Mies Maggie Brnyshaw 

Mi«8 Mary A. Fetrow 

James Mariz 

Mrs. A. H. Fahnestock 

Philip Marquardt 

Dr. a. L.Jndd 

Mrs. Delta Siniras 

Mrs. F. W.Curtis 

Byrd Montgomery 

Mrs. J. B. Dykes 

Mrs. R. . Colgan 

Mrs. Dr. Strother 

Miss Annie Rinard 

Miss Margaret Sydner 

Mrs. W. W. Prigiuore 

Mrs. A. T. Stewart 

Philip Mick 

Isaac Banta 

S.S.Lilly 

Mrs. Pauline Beaid . 

Mrs. E. T. Cosier 

ry B.K. Plough 

harles Huddelson .... 

Mrs. Harriet E. Duncans 

Mies Dakota Taylor 

Miss Lizzie Moss 

Miss Mollie Ellis 

Mrs. Estabrooks 

John Rickeiibacher 

Do 

Lizzie A. Hiekox 

C.F.Wallace 

Miss Clara A. Cooper 

Andrew Jones 

Mrs. M. A. Witnier 

Mrs. Anna Kirkland 

Miss Minnie Partridge 

Emmet C. Higgins 

Mrs. Sarah A. Drew 

Mrs. Julia E. Lide 

Wilhird Thiiig . 

Mr.s. Mai tha Delanoy 

W.H.Ray 

Mrs. Rasa C. Liggett 

F.Kunz 

Miss Mollie J Detraz 

Andrew Broadbent 

Mrs. W. S. Watson and R. R. 
' Neill. 

Mrs. S. A. Conger 

Auenst F. W. Schmitz 

Malissa F. Ellis 

May Thurber 

C. H. Brown 

Mrs. Pauline Penner 

Mrs. Clara D.Estabrook 

Susan Pittsfbrd 

Susie Barrows 

Elizabeth McGuire 

Nettie E. Tarkington 

Mrs. Emma A. Leach 

Abigail McCann 

Miss Minnie Wortley 

P. W. Corya \ 

Ann Ferris 

Mrs. Barbara C. Fetrow 

Gaston VVhite 

Kuthie Craig 

Alice Nighten 

James Jeiikinson 

Mrs. L. O. Luther 

Mrs. Jennie Duddleston 

Fred. Josse 

Miiinip Jaeger 

A . A. Marcli 

Abbie Hrabson 

Stella A. Coy 



Address. 



Town. 



Benton Franklin 

Dn Quoin Perry- 
El Dorado Butler 

Northampton Hampshire 

Chambersburg Franklin 

Norwalk Fairfield . 

St. Louis St. Louis 

Keighlby Butler 

Areola Douglas . . . 

Walnut Ridge Lawrence. 

Ivauhoe Lake 

Hickman's Mills Jackson 

Mound Valley Labette. 

Muskingum Wasbiugton . 

Champaign ('hampaigu 

Alma La Fayette . 

Wai rensburgh Jolins(*n 

North Vernon Jinnings 

Rocklane 

Brewersville 

Kirksville 

North Indianapolis 

Chambersburg 

Mulvaue 

El Dorado 

La Fontaine 

Carrollton 

Bruce 

Palatka 

Gahanna 

do 

Toronto 

Brussels Lincoln 

Heuilerson j Knox 

Vcrvay j Switzerland 

Cheney Sedgwick... 



County. 



State. 



Weight. 



HI 

111 

Kans . 
Mass .. 
Pa .... 
Conn . , 
Mo .... 
Kans . 
HI .... 
Ark .. 

Ill 

Mo .. 
Kans . 
Ohio.. 

Ill 

Mo . . . 
Mo ... 
Ind .. 



Johnson Ind 



Jennings . 
Monroe . . . 
>Iation . . . 
Franklin . 
Sedgwick. 
Butler.... 
Wilson . . . 
Carroll ... 
Barren . . . 
Putnam . . 
Franklin . 
...do 



Piescott. 

Paris 

Fayetteville 
Brightou ... 
Darlington . . 
Du Quoin ... 
Carbondale . 



West Plains Howell 



El Dorado 

Bartow 

<^'aig ■-. 

Erie 

Green Springs . 



Cross Kevs 

St. Mark " 

Forest Hill . . . . 

Lincoln 

Grassy Cove . . . 

Sprinsitown 

Palatka 

Granville 

Rapinsville 

Carthage 

Kirksville 

D wight 

Moravia 

Farlington 

Moore's Hill ... 
Sherburnville . 

El Dorado 

Goldsborough . 

Autun 

Wood burn 

Lane 

Colona Station 

Paris »,... 

Piqiia. 

Neosiio 

Lynns 

Highland 

Foristell 



Ind . . . . 
lud.... 
Ind. .. 

Pa 

Kans . . 
Kans . . 
Kans . . 
Mo .... 
Kv . . . . 
Fia ... 
Ohio... 
Ohio .. 

Woodson i Kans . . 

Mo ... . 
Ill .... 
Ind .. 
Kans . . 
Ark ... 

Ill 

Mo .... 

Ill 

S. C... 

HI 

Ill .... 
Mo ... 
Kans . . 
VU .... 
Ind. .. 
Kans . . 
Ohio... 



Nevada. 

Edgar 

Johnson ... 
Maconpin . , 
Darlington 

Perry 

Jackson . . . 



Butler 

Polk 

■Switzerland 

Neosho 

Seneca 



Rockingham 

Sedgwick 

Sumner .... 
Lancaster .- 
Cumberland . 

Parker 

Putnam 

Licking 

Bates 

Jasper 

Monroe 

Livingston.. . 
Appanoose . . 

Crawforil 

Dearborn 

Kankakee . . 

Butler 

Wayne 

Anderson 

Maconpin ... 

Franklin 

Henry 

Ediia'r 

Miami 

Newton 

Rice 

Highland 

St. Charles. .. 



Va 

Kans . 
W. Va . 
Nebr . . 
Tenn . . 
Tex - - . 
Fla .... 
Ohio .. 
Mo ... . 
Mo ... . 
Ind ... - 

111 

Iowa . 
Kans . . 
Ind. .- 

Ill 

Kans . . 
N. C . . - 
S.C ... 
Ill .... 
Kans . . 

Ill 

Ill 

Ohio . . . 
Mo . - . 
Kans . . 
Ohio . . . 
Mo . - . . 



women's silk culture association. 

List of persons from whom cocoons xvere purchased during 1888-'89, etc. — Contiuued. 



Kame. 



Dr. R.B.Greenlee...,. 

Jamea C. Nagle .' . 

Mabel Caiupbell 

Mrs. H. V. Miller 

K.E.Miller 

Frank Graves 

Martin Moss 

H. E. Preston 

E.J. Trout 

Charles F. Groneweg. . . 

O. F. Stockman , 

M. W. Dare 

Fi'ed Josse 

Mrs. Mary E. Wood 

R. W. Armstrong 

Hattie Truman , 

H. H. Jeter 

jy^arietta L. Hearn 

»arah L. Jones 

Isabell Gregory , 

Mattie F. Ladtl 

Joseph W. Allen 

M. M. Minter 

E. Mackey 

Emily E. Lane 

Anna V. Moore , 

Mrs. George J. Ford 

D. L. Gibson , 

A. C. Coates 

Mary V. Asm an 

P.J.Lee 

Miss D. M. Crawford . . . 

Halley Steele , 

Henrv J. Blue 

Do 

Emma J. Sturm 

W. W. Sibcy 

Dora L. Haviland 

John Pablow 

A. Jane Ball 

Marv E. Boggs 

F. F'. Weld 

Eva Alden 

Gabe Mc. Brown 

J.M. McDaniel 

Mrs. S. J. Case 

Rebecca M. VVilson 

Mrs. M. A.. Maphet — 

James Hibbart 

Mabel Palmer 

E. J. Hardtner 

E. F. Cunningham 

Anna Kohler 

Anna P^airbanks 

Bridget Doyle 

Michael Simon 

Gustav Greding 

Sarah Acklin 

E.M. \V. Spear 

H.Blue 

J. D. Graham 

Vartan M. Donigiau . . - 

D. W.Rankin 

Mrs. IL J. Watson 

M.J.Carl 

Mrs. Helen Council ... 

William Smith 

L. W. Stranae 

Bessie R. Smith 

Irene Dunn 

R. E. Messersmith 
Catherine Vanderhoof. 

C J. Reed. 

Bula Wallace 

Norman A . Jay 

Martha Bradley 

Justus Babb 

P. J. Adams 



Address. 



Town. 



Conway 

Baltimore 

Grenola 

Jonesville 

Pierce City 

Nineveh 

Goodwin's Corner . 

Grant Park 

Feesburgh 

Dayton 

Lawrenceburgh — 

Newark 

Pinua 

Tnlla 

Canton 

Elmore 

Areola 

Hector 

Piqna 

Pleasanton 

Fredericktown 

La Crosse 

Leatherwood 

Pleasanton 

Sedowa 

Harrisonville . ... . 

Carlton Station 

Plymouth 

Brown's 

EvansvUle 

Coushatta 

Goldville 

Liberty Mills 

Mount S\ Ivan 

do 

Dana 

Loveland 

Janesvillo 

Lamar 

Cleveland 

Equality 

Sugar Grove 

Alaska 

Granby 

Peoria 

Sutton 

Three Mill Prairie. 

Xenia 

E. Bountiful 

Burlingame 

Pineville 

Glasco 

Chilo 

Holland 

Schuyler 

Tonngstown 

Upper Alton 

Newton 

Cardington 

Mount Sylvan 

Lane 

(Uncinnati 

Champaign 

New Orleans 

Monmouth 

Lexington 

Haz.leton 

La Fontaine 

Fredei icksburgh . . 

Gi-ape Vine 

Chambersbiirgh ... 

Nevrton 

St. Clere 

Bloom 

Steeleville 

Walton 

Nashville 

Montserrat 



County. 



Faulkner 

Fairtield 

Elk . 

Hillsdale 

Lawrence 

Johnson 

Union 

Kankakee 

Brown 

Montgomery . . . 

Dearborn 

Knox 

Miami 

Coles 

Lewis 

Ottawa 

Douglas 

Jay 

Miami 

Linn 

Knox 

Rush 

Henry 

Linn 

Sedgwick 

Cass 

Orle.ans 

Marshall 

Dallas 

Vanderburgh . 

Red River 

Laurens 

Wabash 

Smith 

...do 

Vermillion 

Clermont 

Rock 

Barton 

Bradley 

Anderson 

Warren 

Kent 

Newton. 

Hill 

Clay 

Washington .. 

Bourbon 

Davis 

Osase 

Rapides 

Cloud 

Clermont 

Ottawa 

Colfax 

Mahoning 

Madison 

Jasper 

Morrow 

Smith. 

DeWitt 

Hamilton 

Champaign . .. 

Orleans 

Crawford. ... 

Hetidfrson 

Buchanan .... 

Wilson 

Spottsylvania 

Tarrant 

Franklin 

Jasper 

Pottawatomie 

Cook 

Randolph 

Cass 

Washington .. 
Johnson 



State. 



Ark . 

Ohio. 

Kan 8 

Mich 

Mo .. 

Ind . . 

Ind . . 

HI ... 

Ohio. 

Ohio . 

Ind.. 

Mo .. 

Ohio. 

HI ... 

Mo.. 

Ohio. 

Ill ... 

Ind.. 

Ohio. 

Kans 

Ohio. 

Kans 

Va... 

Kans 

Kans 

Mo .. 

N. T. 

Ind . 

Ala.. 

Ind . . 

La ... 

S.C.- 

Ind.. 

Tex.. 

Tex.. 

Ind . . 

Ohio . 

Wis . 

Mo . . 

Tenn 

S.C-. 

Pa... 

Mich 

Mo .. 

Tex . 

Nebr 

Mo -. 

Kans 

Utah 

Kans 

La... 

Kans 

Ohio. 

Mich 

Nebr 

Ohio 

111 .. 

HI .. 

Ohio 

Tex 

111 .. 

(Jhio 

111 .. 

La . . 

Kans 

Tenn 

Iowa. 

Kans 

Va... 

Tex.. 

Pa... 

Ill ... 

Kans 

111... 

111... 

Ind.. 

111... 

Mo .. 



'. ight. 


Lbs. oz. 


2 


7 8 


7 8 


3 


2 8 


1 


12 


12 8 


2 4 


6 


3 8 


49 4 


5 


5 4 


1 


2 8 


29 4 


5 4 


23 


4 4 


2 8 


2 12 


6 8 


34 8 


1 


1 8 


22 8 


23 12 


4 


8 


3 8 


5 8 


3 12 


1 8 


3 


1 4 


7 


8 


1 


13 8 


14 


12 


9 12 


1 4 


4 


2 8 


8 


2 8 


2 4 


2 8 


1 4 


1 


22 8 


2 4 


2 10 


1 4 


6 4 


1 8 


1 


2 


12 


4 12 


1 4 


1 12 


? 4 


4 12 


4 8 


1 4 


13 


3 4 


& 


2 


3 


29 


9 


2 


11 0. 


6 4 



Value. 



8 women's silk culture association. 

List of persons from whom cocoons were ^i-chased during 1888-'89, eic. — Continued. 



Name. 



Address. 



Town. 



County. 



State. 



E. Frank 

A. Jaqnins 

J. Gottlieb Scbatz 

Charley A. McKellips. 

Jane Watt 

E. L. Nelson 

K. T. Burnam 

E. Nichols 

Hannah Baird 

Sarah Lackey 

H. J. Blue 

Benjamin Powell 

Luther M. Watkins 

Sarah Campbell 

Sarah Johnson 

J. R. Martin 

Alex L.Gillespie 

R. Cotterman 

Dora D. Longmau 

C. Curdup 

"W. J. Nelthorpe 

Fannie Forbes 

A. Streby 

Baird Snyder 

M.I. Shively ^ 

Fred. A. Reynolds 

John A. Hogg 

Jennie Kinney 

Johannes M. Hansen . 

Mrs. CM. King 

John Shoemaker 

Mary Truax 

Jacoble 

J.W.Ducker 

John Ki'anse 

Ph. Schnoeder 

Mary Stevens 

Miss Emma Hughes. .. 

J. T. Du Souchet 

Nellie Sevier 

Jennie Kinney 

Sallie G. Wyatt 

Alfred Osbor n 

Clara E. Brown 

Sarah Lymeustall 

Dora M. Smith 

N. S. Duncan 

Laura Dare 

W.K.Nelson 

Christeann Stouder ... 

Mary E. Kitchen 

M. E. Kane 

John P. Thiesson 

Peter Fast 

Anna Walton 

Rosa C. Liggett 

Clara Rynearson 

Miss M . E. Kennon 

M. L. Van Voris . 

Robert Thomson 

L.G. Wilson 

Mrs. C. F. W. Haskins. 

E.G. Forward 

Gertrude Riggles 

J. B. Dickey 

Nina Grain 

Maitin Mayer 

M. E. Kars'tetter 

Miss Laura Biddle 

B. Decocijue 

John Lewis 

Charles Combs 

Martin Mayer 

Jacob Schumt-ir 

Anna Thiessen 

P. W. Thiesaen 

M.E. Palmer 



Hudson 

Hazel Green ... 

Amboy 

Westville 

Troy 

Sharon 

Marble Falls .. 
Neosho Falls . . 
Pataskala. ... 
New Bellsville . 
Mount Sylvan . 

Clifton . .■ 

Cedar Grove ... 

lantha 

Penfield 

Farlow 

Duck 

West Florence . 

Corwin 

Lottisburgh 

Burlington 

Concordia. . . . . 
Canal Fulton . . 

Carbondalo 

Frankfort 

Buda 

Shelton 

Mentor 

Grand Island. . 

Mokena 

Putney ville 

Greentown 

South We.st.... 

Mokena 

Jansen 

Yoxall 

Rio Grand 

Wabash 

Warsaw 

Veltier 

Mentor 

Poplar Mount . 

Norfolk 

Albany 

La Barge 

Menallen 

Baltimore 

Newark 

Augusta 

Newtonville . .. 

Shanghai 

Baltimore 

Jansen 

do 

Kowena 

El Dorado 

Union City . . . . 

Morristown 

Americus 

Burlingame. ... 

Parsons 

Petersburffh .. 
Spring Arbor 
M ashlngton . .. 

Newton 

Washington ... 

Conant 

Tipton 

Rossville . 

Purdy 

Miami 

Rossville 

Conant 

do 

Jansen 

do 

Aiken 



Lenawee 

Madison 

Blue Earth . . 

La Porte 

Madison 

Barber 

Burnet 

Woodson 

Licking 

Brown 

Smith 

Washington 
Montgomery 

Barton 

Champaign . 
Moultrie . ... 

Union 

Preble 

do , 

Franklin 

Calhoun 

Cloud 

Stark 

Jackson 

Ross 

Bureau 

Buffalo 

C mpbell 

Hall 

Will 

Armstrong.. . 

Howard 

Elkhart 

Will 

Jefferson 

Osborne 

Giillia 

Giles 

Hancock 

Sullivan 

Campbell 

Greenville . 

Madison 

Green 

Kent 

Adams 

Baltimore 

Knox 

Richmond ... 

Clermont 

Berkeley 

Baltimore 

Jefferson 

...do . 

Audrain 

Butler , 

Rudolph 

Beltnont 

Lyon 

Osaae 

Aurora 

Dinwiddle .. . 
Jackson 
Washington . 

Harvey 

Wa.shingtou . 

Perry 

Moniteau 

Vermillion... 
Barry. ..i... , 

Saline 

Vermillion . . . 

Perry 

.. do 

Jefferson 

...do 

Aiken 



Mich . 
Ala... 
Minn . 
Ind . . . 
HI.... 
.Kans . 
Tex... 
Kans . 
Ohio.. 
Ind... 
Tex... 
Kans . 
Md... 
Mo ... 
Ill .... 
111.... 
Ga . . . 
Ohio.. 
Ohio.. 
N.C .. 
Midi . 
Kans . 
Ohio . . 
Ill .. 
Ohio.. 
111.... 
Nebr. . 
Kv. .. 
Nebr. . 
Ill ... 
Pa ... . 
Ind... 
Ind... 
111.... 
Nebr. . 
Kans . 
Ohio . . 
Va.... 
111... 
Tenn . . 
Ky.... 
Va... 
Nebr. . 
Wis .. 
Mich . 
Penn . 
Md .. 
Mo ... 
Ga...- 
Ohio.. 
AV. Va 
Md - . . 
Nebr . 
Nebr . 
Mo . . 
Kans . 
Ind... 
Ohio . 
Kans -_ 
Kans .' 
Dak . 
Va.... 
Mich . 
DC.. 
Kans . 
D. C . . 
Ill ... 
Mo ... 
Ill ... . 
Mo... 
Mo... 
111.... 
Ill ... 
Dl ... 
Nebr . 
Nebr . 
S.C... 



women's silk culture association. 9 

List of per8on$ from whom cocoons were purchased during 1888-'89, etc. — Continued. 



Address. 

1 


Weight. 


Value* 


Town. 


County. 


State. 






Mo 

Mo 

Va 

Ill 

Md 

Mo 

Va. 

Mo 

Ind 


Lbs. oz. 
20 13 

2 6 
10 

1 14 

3 12 

3 7 

4 5 
12 14 

8 12 


$23. 52 


C W Sykes St Louis 




2.56 






.80 




Macoupin 


1.91 




4.50 






4.17 


Madge O. Weiiich Reliance. 




5.20 




14.53 


Anna Garwood Boonville 


Warrick 


8.75 



Purchases of cocoons by States, fiscal year 1888-'89. 



State. 



Connecticut 

Mississippi 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Utah 

Dakota 

District of Columbia 

Massachusetts 

Maryland 

Arkansas 

Iowa 

Kew York 

Minnesota 

Alabama 

Michigan 

Georgia 

Tennessee 



Weight. 



Lb. oz. 

1 4 

2 8 

1 12 

2 8 
2 4 
7 

15 8 
10 8 

13 13 
15 10 

14 4 
22 8 
37 14 

32 4 
37 3 

33 8 
32 15 



Value. 



$1.57 

1.82 

1.86 

2.22 

2.25 

7.00 

7.57 

9.45 

13.18 

14.19 

14.85 

19.12 

28.37 

31,64 

32.97 

33.30 

33.51 



State. 



Louisiana 

Pennsylvania . 

Kentucky 

North Carolina 

Virginia 

Florida 

Texas 

South Carolina 

Nebraska 

Indiana 

Kansas 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Dlinois 

Total.... 



Weight. 



Lb. oz. 
36 10 
50 
62 12 
54 8 
71 8 
71 12 
68 7 
96 2 
136 4 
185 
249 14 
270 11 
307 3 
477 11 



2, 421 9 



Value. 



$34. 76 

43.70 

45.15 

54.22 

65.42 

65.66 

66.56 

85.57 

120. 21 

176. 38 

225. 66 

229.26 

265.87 

404. 74 



2, 138. 03 



REPORT OF THE WOMEN'S SILK CULTURE ASSOCIATION TO THE 

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, AT WASHINGTON, D. C, 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1889. 



As continued almoners of the public money, which to the amount of 
$5,000 we receive annually from the Government of the United States, 
this association begs to report a careful and economic distribution of 
tlie same in the various channels of the silk industry, notably in the 
distribution of mulberry trees, the advisability of which plau was forced 
upon us by the fact that, in the tirst years of our work, hundreds of 
families rushed into the new industry, with such opportunities as a few 
odd mulberry trees here and there on the farm or the forest oifered, to 
suddenly find that they could not increase their experiments owing to the 
lack of natural food for the silk-worm, and thus dropped out of the per- 
sistent and continued effort needed to successfully establish a new in- 
dustry. This condition, forced on our notice by many facts, impressed 
us with the necessity of liberal and immediate planting of trees, and 
the following circulars were issued : 

[Office of Women's Silk Culture Asbociation of CTnited States, 1224 and 1226 Arch street, Philadelphia.] 

In accordance with the plans of the Women's Silk Culture Association, as suggested 
to the Congress of the United States, by whose dignitied bodies the bill to appropri- 
ate $5,000 to the association to promote the industry of silk culture in the United 
States has passed into a law, the association desire to offer to the State agricultural 
schools, institutious, and reformatories, or to individuals who may have a purpose 
or desire to establish the culture of silk, a gratuity in mulberry trees, in lots not less 
than twenty-five nor more than one hundred. In every instance a guaranty must 
be given, signed by two vouchers, that the recipient who may accept these trees 
shall give them the proper attf^ntion required for their full fruition. It is desirable, 
in these days when the question of forestry has become such a momentous one, that 
we shall not only preserve the trees but increase them; and to this end the new 
movement of the association will be taking a step in the right direction. 

The mulberry trees of many varieties, notably the Moras alba and Mortis japonica, 
are clean, healthy trees, of large leaf, rapid growth, great age, and, most important, 
the product of leaves is of great commercial value. Further, from a small number of 
trees any quantity of cuttings can be taken during growth for a new nursery. It 
is hoped these claims to the planting of mulberry trees, which are without parallel, 
will encourage the planting of them without delay. A grove of such trees means 
wealth for the future. 

The association, therefore, ask for orders for mulberry trees, the order stating the 
number, locality of planting, and the date at which they are required, as only two 
seasons are open for planting, autumn and spring. Prompt suggestions and orders 
are invited. 

Mrs. J. Lucas, 
% P^-eaident. 

Mrs. V. C. Haven, 
♦» Corresponding Secretary. 

10 



women's silk culture association. 11 

To appUcant-1 for trees to feed Mk-worms : 

In both of the appropriations made to the " Women's Silk Culture Association of the 
United States," 18^(i-'87, by Congress a stipulated sum was directed to be spent in 
aenidng, to those who desired to phint, the proper trees for the food of the silk-worm 
free of charge. Tiiis we did last autumn and the present spring, and will continue 
to do the coming fall. The same clause is in the appro[)riation made to the California 
" Women's Silk Association " at San Francisco. We ask that orders for trees be sent 
not later than August for autumn planting and in the winter months for spring 
planting. This enables us to arrange orders so as to give time to the nurseryman to 
select his trees and ship at the proi)er time of planting. The first thing to be done 
towards the production of silk is a provision of food for the thrifty insect, which will 
take good caVe to perform its jtart if we are careful to perform ours, and its only proper 
and legitimate food is tlie leaf of the mulberry tree. This tree has been endowed 
with many properties, happily combining utility and pleasure independent of its 
primary purpose of production of an agreeable article of clothing; it leaves the sur- 
face miich less impoverished than many other trees, its roots striking into the earth 
not obliquely but run deei)ly and perpendicularly. The ground between the rows 
of trees when planted in orchard form may be occupied with other products; neither 
the shade of the tree nor the dropping of rain from its leaves injures the plants 
growing beneath. It is also a matter of universal observation that no insect except 
the silk-worm feeds upon it. The experiment was tried by Monsieur Tullein, and it 
was satisfactorily proved that the product of this tree is the exclusive property of 
the silk-worm, tlie insect that apparently works only for man. The Morns alba, or 
"white mulberry," of which there are many varieties, has been generally adopted 
in America. The variety called Multicaulus is, in France and Italy, considered the 
best, but it has been found in this country too tender, even in the Southern States, 
to be always safe from our possible late frosts. It is natural to China. 

The Morns alba has sound wood, beautiful leaves, and sweet fruit, and is mostly 
useful when its importance in silk culture is taken into consideration. The silk 
which it produces is of the finest quality. The fruit is white, roundish, oblong, and 
insipid. It is a tree of rapitl growth. The bark, it is said, can be converted into a 
linen of the fineness of silk. One of its advantages is that its leaves come out earlier 
than any other, the silk-worms can be hatched earlier, and are thus saved from very 
hot weather. 

Nurseries or plantations should have a sunny exposure, protected against strong 
winds. Any land suitable for raising corn is suitable to the mulberry. As fast as 
the fruit ripens it should be gathered. When a portion of the fruit is ripe, spread 
cloths under the trees and shake them gently every morning during the ripening 
season. One ounce of seed will give about 5,000 young trees. 

Trees left to themselves are liable to assume forms as unsuitable to the taste of the 
horticulturist as inconvenient to those who gather the leaves. Jnne is the best sea- 
son for. preserving, when the j'oung twigs that are taken off maybe given to the 
worms. Trees can be raised by suckers, separated from th^i tree early in the spring 
with some roots attached to them, treated as cuttings. In fact, the ways of increas- 
ing the quantity of food for the worm from a few good trees are various and too 
numerous to mention in small limits, but to any skillful farmer or tree raiser will 
suggest themselves. 

When Providence does anything for man, it is his duty toco-operate. 

The food plant of the silk-worm is the mulberry, of which two species are the best 
for this country — the white mulberry {Morus alba) and the Japan (Morusjajjonica.) 
The Morus muliicaulis is not always hardy in this climate. 

The mulberry grows readily and is easily propagated by cuttings, the easiest and 
surest method of planting to secure a stock. The cuttings should be planted in 
rows 4 to 6 inches apart, in light, rich soil, prepared by deep ]»lowing and well pul- 
verized. They should be about 6 inches long, and each to have not less than two 
eyes; three are more certain of growth. They should be almost entirely buried, 
leaving one bud above ground ; the rows should be about three feet apart, which 
will give sufficient room to pass between them. 

The quickest way to get a sui)ply of leaves is to grow dwarfs. Set out the young 
trees from the nursery in rows l"i to 1.5 feet apart, and let the rows be 6 to 8 feet 
apart. Cut the tree down to about 15 to 18 inches from the ground. The height of 
the tree is easily regulated. The process of pruning not only promotes a strong and 
vigorous growth, but keeps the foliage within reach of easy picking for feeding pur- 
poses 

The best time for planting 6nttings or trees is in either March or April. The cut. 
tings should not be transplanted before the second year. 

The planting of mulberry trees in the hedge form will be found very advantageous; 
the same quantity of land will thus' produce more leaves than from the standard 
trees, and the labor of gathering full one-half less. In the country and villages, 
where every fiimily has plenty of ground by their dwellings, trees may be planted 
by the fences, so as to let the children pick the leaves to feed the worms. This is 



12 women's silk culture association. 

what may be termed cottage culture, and eyery family of four or five children, in six 
weeks, can earn more than all the clothes they wear would cost. 

As the best and first thing to be done by a silk-grower is to cultivate the kinds of 
mulberry trees or plants which will give the largest yield of silk, we know that the 
Moms alba, or white mulberry, and the Moms japoiiica, or Japanese mulberry, • are 
certain to produce the best silk, aaid experiment will only increase expenses and 
render the value of your crop uncertain. 

The Moras japonica has the largest leaves, and is so easily picked that the French 
breeders prefer it to any other as a cheap silk producer. Its standing well the 
winters of the North is proved by five years' growth in Kansas. It grows easily by 
cuttings, and many stems grow 6 feet high the first year. 

We are all aware that climate is a matter of first importance in the growth of the 
mulberry tree. The great metropolis of China, Peking, '39° 54' latitude, about three 
miles south of Philadelphia, may be quoted as her northern extremity of the silk- 
growing country, which extends as far south as the twentieth parallel of north lati- 
tude. It is in her central province, between the twenty-fifth and thirty-fifth degrees 
of latitude, that the greater part of her silk is produced. The eastern shore of North 
America is, in this respect, so similarly situated to the same shore of the Asiatic 
continent that the mean annual temperature of any given degree of latitude on our 
Atlantic shores will be found very nearly to correspond with the same degree of lati- 
tude in China, near the Pacific. China, also, in point of extent of surface and ter- 
ritory very much resembling those of the United States, it is evident that we of all 
nations under the sun have the best chance to equal that eminent nation as to the 
"golden tleece." Nature has done all she can for us; will a sound jtolicy effect the 
rest! This question was asked in regard to the special industry of silk raising in 
1623, and is not yet answered. In 1783 the legislature of Connecticut granted a 
bounty on mulberry trees and raw silk. In ISIO the sewing and raw silk of New 
Londou, Windham, and Tollaud were valued by the United States marshal at $28,503, 
exclusive of the amount of "domestic fabrics." In 1837 it was announced that the 
"mulberry will grow and the silk-worm thrive throughout the whole length and 
breadth of the United States." 

A few acres of land of ordinary fertility and a few dollars in money for the purchase 
of seeds and plants will enable a silk-grower to buy the foundation of a plantation on 
a considerable scale, and the first thing to be done towards the production of silk is 
a provision of food for the worm, that will take due care to perform its part if only 
we are careful to perform ours. 

The quality of the silk does not entirely depend upon the food ; general care through- 
out the entire progress, from the egg to the cocoon', is very essential to secure good 
cocoons. The general experience teaches that the best condition of the leaves for 
feeding is when they aie free from dew or rain. The stripping of the leaves should 
not be begun until the dew has been absorbed by the heat of the sun, and ought to 
be finished before sunset. Wet leaves produce diarrhea, and it is important to have 
a supply of dry leaves. To avoid accident, and to secure a supply for rainy days, a 
stock should be kept on hand ; they will keep for a couple of days in a cool, dry cel- 
lar ; a brick or stone floor is best, or on a clean linen sheet in a cool, dark room. Do 
not let them be too much heaped together, and do not allow a change of tempera- 
ture in the "leaf store," tending to promote fermentation if gathered in hot 
weather or left too long in a state of compression in bags and baskets. Dusty leaves 
must be wiped with a soft linen cloth. Accurate thermometers are very needful in 
silk culture, and every room in w^hich the work is carried ou should have several. 

It should be impressed upon children, and all who are employed to pick leaves, to 
pass the hands up from the lower part to the top to strip oft' the leaves upward, not 
downward, as the latter may injure the buds. The picking of leaves requires great 
caution to prevent injury to the trees; nature never intended that they should be 
violently stripped of their foliage. All climbing of young trees should be avoided. 
Pruning-shears are very needful for tall trees. A pair can be attached by one of the 
handles to a pole any height most convenient, say ten feet, which, whilst it is held 
in one hand, is worked by means of a cord passing through a pulley, and attached 
to the other handle by the other hand. In the cities we see the tree trimmers using 
them in the streets every spring. My own preference would be for dwarf trees or 
hedges, if I were undertaking silk culture as a business, because the silk-worms, 
when preparing to spin, eat an immense quantity of food, and the easier the gather- 
ing of leaves is made, the better for all concerned in the feeding process. 

As a rule, keep back the first batching until the first leaves are developed sufifi- 
ciently for food, but it is not always possible to do this in the variable climate of our 
Northern springs. Last spring the association received from Georgia specimens of 
cocoons, before the first leaf had appeared in the park, which shows that south of 
forty degrees should be the headquarters of silk culture, where the climate renders 
the work easier and certain of success. 

To be provided with a resource against a backward spring, those who have space 
will find that a small hedge— the width of a garden border will answer— planted in a 



women's silk culture association. 13 

southern exposure, sheltered by a buihliu<^. Early iu the spring, cover the hedge 
with straw or matting to protect it from the frost at uigbt. A small space is suffi- 
cient, as in their "tirst age" the worms require very litrle food. I have heard that 
by careful gathering of the leaves in the early autumn, before they begin to fall, 
they can be dried and preserved, so that by carefully soaking them iu pure cold water, 
and drying with a linen cloth, they can be fed to the early hatch (juite acceptably. 

Under the heading " Mulberry Leaves 9,nd Statistics," in the last edition (1839) of 
the best book on the "Mulberry Tree and Silk-worm," by Mr. J. Clarke, I find that 
in silk culture abroad there is a "division of labor." Tlie "renting of trees and 
selling of leaves" is a business for a farmer or owner of land ; it is one branch of the 
work, that of "producing silk" is another, and the connecting link is a "leaf 
market." 

A leaf market in a city renders it quite possible for otherwise unemployed women 
and children whose houses have more rooms than are occui>ied to raise silk. If the 
children only are employed, it would be a great benefit; but there are women, old 
and young, incapable of heavy work, in all our populous cities, whose success in silk- 
raising would not only support themselves, but enrich the nation. 

If productive labor is a source of wealth, both to nations and individuals, it is de- 
sirable that it should be increased to its greatest possible extent. This can only be 
done by seeking out objects to which the labor of the young, old, and infirm is 
adapted, and among these is none more appropriate than the culture of silk. The 
same remarks are substantially true with respect to its manufacture. 

Leaf markets are established facts, not only on the continent of Europe, but in 
Asia. I quote from an eye-witness : " On all the roads and avenues to Broosa we saw 
mules, camels, asses, with all manner of conveyance, freighted with mulberry leaves 
for the leaf market. In the city itself we saw many families, on the approach of the 
silk-raising season, on the move to clear and make ready, for the labors of the silk- 
worm, every spare apartment in the house. Two-thirds of every house is a cocoon- 
ery." In the town there is the leaf market every day, aiul in the houses are the 
worms feeding — a combination of town and country through the leaf market. 

Suppose this example be followed in America, and enable all to profit who will. 

Let the farmers enrich their hedges and fields with the wealth-giviug tree, send its 
leaves by wagon, boat, or railroad, and enable every citizen, who is tied by his busi- 
ness to the city, to utilize every idle hand in his family and empty room of his house, 
by providing the silk-worius and the food for them, and mark out a way to industry, 
morality, and health by raising silk. 

At the close of the thirteenth century, the celebrated traveler Marco Polo, in his 
narrative of travels in the Celestial Empire, says : "No fewer than one thousand car- 
riages and pack horses, loaded with raw silk, make their daily entry into Cambula, 
where silk of various textures are manufactured to an immeiise extent. 

Two essentials to success, at the present time, are quantity and quality of cocoons 
Quantity of cocoons will open filatures in many directions, and make the supply of 
raw silk equal to the demand of the manufacturers; and quality will secure the sale 
of all the raw silk produced at fair prices. 

A cocoonery for 1 ounce of eggs, 40,000, will cost about $57 — and 1 ounce is amply 
eufficieut to begin with. Any room that can be well ventilated and kept at a regular 
an . moderate temperature will make a cocoonery. 

Twenty frames or hurdles, with twine, tacks, and time, will cost about $13. 00 

Racks for the frames 5. 00 

Ounce eggs (40,000) 5.00 

One boy for four weeks 10.00 

Man for two weeks 20. 00 



$53. 00 
For the first week any woman or child in the house can easily pick the leaves and 
feed the worms. 

"With patience and perseverance the mulberry leaf becomes silk. 

Mrs. V. Carey Haven, Corresponding Secretary. 

These circulars were issued in the summer of 1887, and in the space 
of two years we have distributed iu nearly every one ot the States of 
the Union large numbers of trees, aggregating 27,624 trees, and have 
many orders for trees standing for the autumn of 1889. 

This association feels it to be a matter of deep regret that this effort 
was not put forth in the first years of their work ; but until the 
Government aid came to their assistance, this was not practicable, ow- 
ing to a lack of funds and the necessity for seeking, from private 
sources, support for the association. Already we observe the increased 
interest thus awakened. 



14 women's silk culture association. 

The class of i)eople calculated for fhis industry, and among whom 
only it can take deep root, the agriculturists looking for new sources 
of income, live largely remote from the opportunities of knowing where 
and how to increase their possibilities of the new industry, and hail our 
ofl'er of trees with great satisfaction. 

"Vy^ehave experienced some diftieulty in procuring good trees, in a 
proper state of cultivation for transplanting, but all these difficulties 
will yield to demand, and thus a new and healthy stimulus be given 
to this branch of silk culture. 

We are gratitied with the quality and quantity of cocooons coming 
into the Pliiladelphia filature at this early date of 1889, as a slow and 
gradual improvemeiit. 

Many other stations for the jiurchase of cocoons have been opened, 
notably at the sericulture department at Washington, Kansas, and 
California, and we have much corresjjondence with these stations in 
reference to reeling their ])roduct, evidently with a view of having it 
done at less cost than they seem able to do it. 

In many i)laces there are calls for the establishment of new auxil- 
iary associations, and one has been formed at Boston to represent the 
State of Massachusetts. It would be well for the more rapid advance- 
ment of the industry if every State had its Women's Silk Culture 
Association. We are pleased to call your attention to the successful 
reeling of silk, on simple American reels, at the Philadelphia filature. 
We have this year carried out a successful education of silk-raising 
under the care of our American reelers, with a view of teaching them 
ali the branches, that they may in turn teach others. Our best reelers, 
with fairly good cocoons, can turn out one pound of raw silk daily, and 
with six girls and six reels we run 24 skeins of raw silk at one time. 

California, Kansas, Illinois, Delaware, Massachusetts, and many 
other States ai^e in special correspondence with us in reference to 
reeling and the establishment of auxiliary associations, thus showing 
continued interest in the development of silk culture throughout the 
States. 

In the South of Ireland, too, an association of ladies interested in 
silk culture has been formed, largelj^ through the influence of this 
association, under the patronage of the Earl of Bandon. Dora de 
Blaquiere, one of their associates, states in her circular "' that through 
the kindness of the Women's Silk Culture Association of the United 
States, at Philadelphia, I have been supplied with information up to 
date of all their proceedings, anxieties, and successes from 1880 to 
1888," This association bids fair, under liberal patronage, to succeed 
in its eflbrt. 

The Serrell reels, which are in place at the silk department at 
Washington, are marvels of automatic machinery, and may, in their 
fully perfected condition, work a revolution in the filatures of the 
world, especially as the industry increases in our own country, where, 
through the genius of the people and the freedom of our institutions, 
every industry reaches the highest stage of progress and perfection, 
and this Association, as the pioneers in the newly awakened interest in 
silk culture, regard with pleasure and satisfaction the liberal methods 
of the Government in thus developing all the best and newest appli- 
ances, to place silk culture prominently before this nation as one of its 
future industries. 

A country with a rapidly increasing population and advanced status 
in arts and manufactures ; a people second to none in refined and ele- 
gant tastes and with its coffers, both public and private, full to over- 



women's silk culture association. 15 

flowiug, can not afford to eliminate from its varied avenues of wealth 
and production the marvelous beauty and elegance of the products of 
the silk industry ; and no higher channel can be found for the judicious 
expenditure of a portion of the nation's wealth than the fostering ctire 
of such industries as give scope and opportunity to the skill and labor 
of its people, thereby animating the man to the production of new mat- 
ter for the use of others, and illustrating the life oi the silk- worm in 
the axiom of the silk industry, in which is embodied the highest prin- 
ciples of life: 

Not for ourselves work we. 

Eespectfully submitted. Mrs. John Lucas. 

July, 18S9. 



Treasurer's report of the Women's Silk Culture Association, of the United Stales, to the 

Agricultural Department at Washington, D. C.,for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, 
[Under authority of the act "Making an appropriation for the Department of Agriculture and other 

purposes." October 6, 1888, received from United States Treasurer, Draft No. 1(5010, Treasury 

Warrant, No. 652, October 4, 1888, $5,000.] n 

Hod. Jp:kemiah Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture : 

Dear Sir : In accordance with request for detailed information concerning the 
"expenditures and results obtained under this appropriation," we beg to make the 
following statement for this fiscal year : 

The filature was in operation during the fiscal year 459 days; 4 reels in operation 
two months ; 2 reels in operation seven months. There were about 53(5 pounds of 
cocoons used, yielding 104 pounds I ounce of silk. 

Received for sale of pierced and waste cocoons $334. 18 

Received for sale of dress and Hag silk 791. 99 

Cost of labor employed in reeling, sorting, etc.: 

Salary of superintendent • $480. 00 

For reelers and sorters 1^90. 81 

Engineer 55.00 

Reelers and sorters, average pay 90 cents per day. 

To this summary we beg leave to add the following allied and necessary expenses : 

Purchase of cocoons 1 $1, 536.96 

Rent, including steam-power employed 750.00 

Repairs and incidentals to silk and reel room 64. 71 

Purchase of trees and freight 1, 550. 32 

Printing postals, circulars, advertising for cocoons 232.90 

Postage 59.50 

Experimental school at Fairmount Park.... 133.97 

State exhibits, auxiliaries, etc 124. 25 

Silk-worm eggs, Milan 13,80 

Committee to Washington, D. C 27. 55 

Weaving dress and flag silk 1, 1^51. 08 

We have paid $1,536.96 for the purchase of 2,040 pounds and H ounces of reelabl,e, 
pierced, and waste cocoons from over 123 persons of the following States : Alabama, 
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missoiu'i, Nebraska, New Jersey, 
New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina Virginia, Utah. 

W^e have distributed 17,801 mulberry trees to 28 States, as follows : 



Alabama 25 

Arizona 200 

Delaware 350 

Florida 1,115 

Georgia 50 

Illinois 100 

Indiana 100 

Iowa 25 

Kansas 5 

Maine 25 

Maryland 775 

Massachusetts 85 

Michigan 125 

Minnesota 50 



Missouri 2100 

Montana 50 

Nebraska 11,200 

New Jersey 500 

New York 125 

Ohio 175 

Oregon 100 

Pennsylvania 88 

South Carolina 5 

Tennessee 50 

Texas 100 

Virginia 113 

Washington 75 

Wisconsin 50 



16 women's silk culture association. 

Instructions are given to any one choosuig to take advantage of the opportunity. 
During the year we have had many visitors to the rooms, making inquiries in -regard 
to silk culture and reeling. 

We freely distribute circulars in regard to tree culture, and give full information on 
producing good cocoons. 

The experimental school at the Park was entirely in the charge of young American 
women, their first effort in silk culture, and was very satisfactory. There were 
many visitors to the school, who expressed much interest in the industry, several 
persons taking object-lessons. 

Managers of some reformatory schools are taking an interest in the work, hoping 
to make it an industry for the children. Trees have been planted, and next year 
those in charge expect to experiment in silk culture. 

RECAPITULATION. 

RECEIPTS. 

Government Treasury $5,000.00 

Accrued interest on same 65.99 

5, 065. 99 

Sale of Silk, etc 791.99 

Sale of waste cocoons, etc 334. 18 

Total 6,192.16 

EXPENSES. 

Purchase of reliable, pierced and waste cocoons 1, 536. 96 

Wages of reelers and sorters 390. 81 

Salary of superintendent 480. 00 

Salary of engineer 55. 00 

Kent, with steam-power employed 750. 00 

Repairs, incidental to reels, reel-room, etc 64. 71 

Purchase of trees and freight 1,550. 32 

Printing postals, circulars, advertising for cocoons 232.90 

Postage 59.50 

Experimental school at Fairmount Park 133. 97 

State exhibits and auxiliaries 124. 25 

Silk-worm eggs, Milan 13. 80 

Committee to Washington, D. C 27.55 

Weaving dress aqd flag silk 1,351. 08 

Total 6,770.85 

Respectfully submitted. 

Mrs. H. p. Taylor, Treasurer. 



FOURTH ANiNUAL REPORT OF THE LADIES' SILK CULTURE 
SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA. 



The Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. O. r 

In accordance with the requirements of law, I Lave the honor here- 
with to submit the annual report of the Ladies' Silk Culture Society 
of California for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. Owing to the 
fact that the appropriation for the year did not become available until 
February, 1889, the operations of the society at its silk culture station 
were suspended during the mouths of August, September, and Octo- 
ber. On the 1st of November, as there was a pressing necessity that 
work should be resumed, arrangements were made by which the re- 
ceipt of the appropriation was anticipated with that end in view. This 
work consisted chiefly in sinking a well from which water might be ob- 
tained for irrigation purposes and for domestic use. Work upon this' 
well had been commenced the previous y^ar, as briefly alluded to in 
our last report, and had been pushed until a depth of about 50 feet 
had been reached, when operations were suspended without any avail- 
able supply of water having been reached. Soon after resuming this- 
work in November last, the difficulties encountered were such that the 
then president of the society. Dr. W. P. Gibbons, in accordance with 
the views of the board of directors, again suspended the work in order 
that the superintendent at the station might direct his attention to the 
care of the orchard. 

Dr. Gibbons having handed in his resignation as president of the 
board of directors, on April 4, 1889, Mr. W. B. Ewer was elected to 
fill that ofBce. 

By a vote of the board of directors, it was decided not to resume 
work upon the well, but to rely upon winter irrigation and more 
thorough cultivation for the growth of the orchard. The success which 
has thus far attended this experiment has been most eminently success- 
ful. The dry season has now fairly passed and the orchard never 
looked better. With more careful attention to winter irrigation during 
the coming season, it is confidently believed that it can be entirely dis- 
pensed with. 

During the past season, in addition to our experimental and usual 
routine work, the society has taken upon itself a portion of the work of 
the State board of silk culture. That association has for many 
years been in the annual receipt of an appropriation from the Cali- 
fornia State legislature, which was expended largely in purchasing 
and reeling the cocoons which were produced by the people of this State 
and in giving instruction in filature work. 

The last legislature passed the usual appropriation, but for some 
reason it did not obtain the approval of the governor. Soon after it 
became time to commence the usual work of hatching and feeding- 

17 
H. Ex. 110 3 



15 WOMEN S SILK CULTURE ASSOCIATION. 

tliroiigbont tlie State, the State 'oosllfd issued circulars, stating that in 
consequence of the faihire to receive the usual appropriation, tJie board 
would be unable to purchase cocoons as they had heretotore done. 
Upon receipt of these circulars, many who had coiumeuced feeding 
stopped their work and destroyed their worms. 

At this juncture, the Ladies' Silk Society, seeing the disaster which 
would be intlicted upon the industry' if the feeding was stopped alto- 
gether, iuHuediately issued other circulars, ottering to take up the work 
of the State board in purchasing cocoons and advising those engaged 
in the business to continue their work as usual. Those who received 
the circulars in season did so, but the result has been quite a falling off 
in the number of cocoons |>roduced the past season. The assurance, 
however, which has been given that all proper encouragement will here- 
after be extended to the industry by our society until such time as the 
State board may be able to again resume its work will, no doubt, pre- 
vent any permanent detriment to the future progress of this interest- 
ing and useful industry in California. 

This work api)eared to the management most imperative, as it was 
evident to all that if such a step was not promptly taken, most of the 
work of the promoters of a new industry and most of the expenditure 
of both State and ]S^ational Government in that direction in California 
would have come to naught, and the imi)ortant and promising interest 
of sericulture would have been strangled in its infancy in the very lo- 
cality, of all others, where costly exi)eriments had proven it capable of 
being most readily carried to the highest point of success. 

THE WOKK ALREADY DUNE IN CALIFORNIA. 

True, the silk industry in California is still in its infancy ; but enough 
has been done to show that there are " millions in it," if properly con- 
ducted and patiently i)rosecuted. European silk culturists who have 
visited our State are unanimous and enthusiastic in pronouncing the 
conditions of California superior to those of the best silk regions of 
Europe for prosecuting this industry. 

Mistakes were made in the early history of the industry in this State 
which will not be repeated. But within the past few years much actual 
progress has been made and enough has been done to prove that, if our 
present efforts are continued, it will not be long before sericulture will 
become an established and profitable industry in California. 

It requires several years after a mulberry orchard has been planted 
before the trees attain sufficient growth to produce any considerable 
number of cocoons. During the last five or six years nearly or quite 
every agricultural county in the State has planted great numbers of 
mulberry trees — in some counties aggregating into thousands. During 
those years experiments, mostly conducted by women and children, by 
utilizing the few leaves which the young trees have produced, are such 
as to greatly encourage a more extensive feeding as the trees increase 
their leafy product. And now, with the further assurance that a ready 
market for the cocoons will be kept up, these trees will be more fully 
utilized, and a large increase in cocoons may be expected. 

THE SILK CULTURE EXPERIMENTAL STATION. 

The Ladies' Silk Culture Society, which makes this report and which 
is working under the auspices of the General Government, is making 
steady progress in its experimental work. The station for this work 



women's silk cultuke association. 19 

consists of 15 :i<tres of ground, and is located at Piedmont, just out 
of the city of Oakland — a locality in every way well titted for the work. 
It has 'already been of much value in advancing sdk industry in this 
State. 

The uses of an experimental silk culture station are various and im- 
portant. Among them maybe named cultivating, testing, and deter- 
mining the best varieties of food trees for tlie silk-worm and their 
ada[)tation to the ])eculiarities of soil and climate; the breeding of the 
best varieties of silk-worms, and obtaining the best eggs for distribu- 
tion ; studying the diseases of silk-worms and making known tiie reme- 
<lies for the same. All these objects are being carried outasfar an<l as 
rapidly as our linnted means will admit. 

In addition to the objeets above named a silk culture station should 
•constitute an educational center, where persons desiring information 
upon any subject relating to silk culture may be able to find it. In its 
widest aspect, instruction should be given in all the details of hatching 
and feeding the worms, ))roducing and ])reserving cocoons and silk- 
worms' eggs and in reeling the cocoons. To accomplish the latter ])ur- 
pose a filature would be reiiuired. Pleretofore all filature work in Cal- 
ifornia has been done by the State board. 

In order to reach comi>lete success in silk culture all the provisions 
named should be carried out at the experimental station. Stations of 
this kind have long been established in all the large silk-producing 
localities of Europe at government exi>ense, and the fact is there uni- 
versally acknowledged, that without such aid the silk industries of those 
localities could not be kept up. 

The station at Piedmont is somewhat limited in extent, but much 
•can and is being done on that area. Hitherto our trees have not been 
sufliciently matured to enable us to carry on the work of feeding to the 
•extent and in the manner to accomplish the best ivsults. But the or- 
chard has now reached a degree of maturity which will enable us to at- 
tain better results in the future. The experiments of the present year, 
however, have been quite successful and complete, as will be fully 
shown by the annexed reports of the secretary and the chairman of 
the experimental committee. The exhaustive and scientific report of 
Professor liivers testifies to the diligence, skill, and patience with 
which he has done his important work. 

WILL SILK INDUSTRY PAY IN CALIFORNIA! 

As a commercial or agricultural industry on a large scale, conducted 
by companies or capitalists, we answer " no." 

As a home, family, or a cottage industry, we most emphatically answer 
"yes." 

Neither this society nor intelligent advocates of silk industry any- 
where in this country have ever claimed that it would pay when con- 
ducted on a large scale, as is pursued in raising cotton or wheat. 

Filatures may thus be carried on by cai)italists; but the raw mate- 
rial — the cocoons — should be produced as a family or a cottage industry. 
That is the way it is done in Europe. The business of producing co- 
coons should be introduced into families as an auxiliary to their slender 
incomes, whether on the farm or in towns and villages. It requires 
only a very small amount of means, just a little piece of cheap laiul 
planted with mulberry trees. After a little instruction it can be man- 
aged by any person of ordinary intelligence. Small boT»s and girls are 
quite competent to attend to the entire work of producing cocoons, as 
has been fully proven in numerous instances in this State. 



20 women's silk cultuee association. 

It is well known that the business Conducted in this manner in France 
and Italy is a pay ins: industrj'. Experiments have shown that we can 
produce better silk in California than can be produced in Europe, on 
account of the superiority of our climate and the higher mental condi- 
tion of our people. Moreover the ingenuity and inventive spirit of our 
working people is always improving' on the worn-out and crude methods 
of the Asiatics, or even those of Europe. Our workmen and work- 
women are always quicker and more skillful than the same class of 
people in Europe. We find this especially true through every class 
and character of mechanical and all other producers. These manifold 
advantages, taken in consideration with the far cheaper lands and lower 
taxes in this country, will more tlian counterbahuice the cheaper labor 
of Europe, Especially is this the case when we projiose to employ only 
the labor of children and women in families who have no other employ- 
ment on their hands at the time. 

In pursuing- this industry we do not propose that a da.\'s labor shall 
be taken from the farm or vineyard. All the work of producing cocoons 
may be done, especially in this State, at a time when the farmer and 
his boys have nothing else to do, and when the household labor is at 
its lightest. / 

Stock companies organized for silk culture and managed by agents, 
clerks, overseers, and large forces of hired men or boys have almost or 
quite always failed in Europe, as well as in this country. Neither this 
society nor the consistent advocates of silk culture anywhere through- 
out the United States have ever 

HELD OUT FALSE HOPES 

as to great profits and immense fortunes being realized from the 
industry. Those in this State and elsewhere who have opposed the 
encouragement of silk culture by State or national governments have 
done so without due knowledge or consideration of the methods pro- 
posed hj such promoters of the industry as have looked carefully into 
the subject, and acted upon mature reflection and careful consideration. 
It is confidently believed that whoever will read this report thoroughly 
and carefully consider all the conditions, advantages, and consequences 
involved must come to a firm conviction of the fact that silk culture can 
be made to pay in this State and in many other portions of the country 
as well. 

THE MORAL AND HUMANITARIAN ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRY. 

We have thus far confined our observations to the pecuniary i)hases 
of the industry under discussion. Let us now i)ass in brief review its 
moral and humanitarian aspect, which is believed by many to be of the 
highest importance to the welfare of any community in which the in- 
dustry may be practically established. 

Silk culture is essentially an educational industry and the one best 
calculated to help on the great humanitarian work of bettering the con- 
dition of poor and needy families and providing easy and profitable 
work for the women and the younger members of such families. It is es- 
sentially woman's work. It is elevating in its tendency. In all Euro- 
pean and Asiatic countries where it has been introduced it is studiously 
made elevating and respectable, as well as profitable. In France it is 
made a part of the education of every young lady, whether in the com- 
mon school, the academy, or the convent. It is countenanced and made 



women's silk culture association. 21 

popular in many countries by the exceptional and warm interest taken 
in it by well-to-do ladies who move in the highest and most retined so- 
ciety, not excepting- even royalty itself. 

The object of all this islargely humanitarian. '' There are so few indus- 
tries in which women, children, and iufum persons can })rotitably en- 
gage," says a writer, '• that this enterprise would seem to be a godsend 
to them." There is no hard work about it. Every man wIjo owns a 
little patch of ground can ])lHnt a few mulberry trees upon it. They 
will arrive at a reasonable state of maturity in four or five years with 
very little care or cost. That done, let the industry be handed over to 
the women and children of the household. Three or four persons who 
may have nothing elst- to do can then take up the work, and in four or five 
weeks earn what will contribute materially to the prosperity and hap- 
piness of the family and home. Ifi)oor, it will well pay the husband 
and father to help his wife and children to earn a few dollars in this 
way ; if not in need of such earnings, such an exami)Ie of thrift and in- 
dustry will tell upon his less fortunate neighbors and largely add to 
his own aujj the ha[)piness and prosperity of the neigijborhood. 

Let sucttj *i course as this become general, and bye and bye an in- 
dustiy will be built U[) in the State ami nation which will rank among 
the leading industries of the country and add thousands and millions 
annually to the aggregate of wealth. Silk culture in Europe and Asia 
has long been one of the chief sources of income of those countries, 
and there is no reason why our own country should not share in such 
a benefit. 

We owe something to our children, and the generations which are to 
succeed them. There are thousands on all sides who are crying out 
" give us work." Shall we heed the cry "? The opportunity is pre- 
sented to provide an industry which, if properly established aud dis- 
tributed, will prove of incalculable benefit to our country. Shall we let 
it pass unheeded! There is a strong tendency to indolence in our 
State. It is an alarming fact that too many of our young people of 
both sexes are growing up in idleness. This con«lition is already be- 
ginning to bear fruit of a m ist noxious kind, and it is only by prompt 
and great exertion that we can check it. This state of things appeals 
most earnestly to Christian charity and effort. Idleness is the root of 
all evil. Grive our young people something to do and they will cer- 
tainly make better women aud men than if allowed to grow up in idle- 
ness. There is room for thousands of families to engage in silk in- 
dustry. 

Three or four thousand persons in the country spending fo'ir or five 
weeks in the year raising cocoons will give permanent employment, all 
the year around, to as many persons in the city who may engage in reel- 
ing, spinning, and otherwise preparing the raw silk tor domestic use. 

Did the reader ever think what a vast amount of good such employ- 
ment would do in this citj' of San Francisco? The following paragraph 
api)eared several years ago in a city i)aper. The picture, it drawn to- 
day, would be a much darker one. We quote as follows: "Our hood- 
lum feminine element, which ap|)eals to and should shock the most cal- 
lous observer to the effect that if Christian charity of churches could 
be brought to know the dark side of our social panorama, many a dollar 
that now goes elsewhere would be devoted to the reclamation of Amer- 
ican evils that are sinking into the blackest perdition under the very 
shadow of our steeples," and much more of the same kind. The picture 
is a truthful one. 

Now the training of girls for technical industry, the introduction of 



22 women's silk culture association. 

• 

our boys and girls iuto new avenues of profitable work, would change 
the cliaracter of the picture and give us, instead, additional thousands 
of haj>py homes and useful men and women. 

Where is there an industry better calculated to afford just the em- 
ployment needed to bring about such a result than that of producing 
silk ? But it must not be forgotten that it will be the small producer 
who will make California a silk-i)i()ducing State. Silk will never be 
produced in this country until the farmers' families take hold of the 
business in earnest, and that without any thought of making fortune* 
out of it. Let them be satisfied with such small sums as from ten or 
twenty dollars to a hundred or more. a(;cording to the number engaged, 
all earned in the short time of thirty five or forty days when the labor 
on the farm and in the household is'at its low<st ebb. That the pro- 
duction of cocoons will ])ay when conducted in this, the only mamierof 
production urged by this association, is a qiiestioii beyond dispute. The 
individual efforts maybe small in results, Imt the aggregate will be im- 
mense, and may easily be run up into the millions in value. When we 
have provided the cocoons, capital will cMiie in to purclni* theui and 
convert them into articles of value and usefulness, for w";h there is 
always a market. The improved and delicate machinery now being 
used for reeling and spinning will give our skilled labttr an immense 
advantage over the chea]) unskilled labor of Europe and Asia, where 
many generations must ])ass away before such machinery can be util- 
ized. This and other advantages already noticed will more than wipe 
out the disadvantage of cheap labor. 

The culture of silk is one of the more advanced industries — one that 
requires skill and intelligence from the time the eggs are hatched until 
the }:oods are placed upon the market for consumption. It is just the 
industry to be taken np by the country in which the average of educa- 
tion among the masses is ahead of that in any o her land. The mul- 
berry may be made more profitable than the vine, much more than the 
wheat field or even the average gold mine. The mulberry tree has been 
most a])tly likened to a gold mine above ground, but with the differ- 
ence in favor of the tree — that the returns will be far more sure and 
more continuous. 

Let us interest our boys and girls to some extent in the work at once. 
Then thousands who might otherwise go to ruin will bless the work of 
our hands. Let it be done at once, even if it is done solely for the 
benefit of our country and humanity. Let us be vigilant and allow no 
op|)ortuiiity to escape that may lead us on to victory. 

This work, thanks to a benevolent few and to our National and State 
Governments, has been well commenced — thepeo|)le are becoming more 
and more interested in it, and are being more tho.oughly educated up 
to the importance of the work, both in its humanitarian and in its eco- 
nomical character. We have thus far devoted but a very little of either 
time or money to the work. When we look abroad and observe the many 
years and the large amounts of money tint it has cost such countries 
as Italy and France to introduj^e the industry among their people, we 
may well take heart and regard the progress that we have made as 
more than satisfactory. 

W. B. 1' WER, President of Board of Directors. 
Mrs. L. E. Pratt, Secretary. 



women's silk culture association. 23 

secretary's report. 

To ilie President and Members of the Ladies^ Silk Culture Societi/ of California : 

lu looking backward four years to the date of tbe incorporation of this society, it 
is with pleasure we record the steady growth and progress in the industry we are 
banded together to promote. Stated monthly meetings have been held since its 
organization, also many special meetings, and although the labors are yet ft!w, and 
the harvest not yet abundant, the utility and success of the enterprise is no longer 
doubtful, but an accepted fact. The slow and tedious process of completing a 
typical mulberry orchard for experimental woik, the basis of the entire plan of 
work outlined at the beginning, will in tlie near future be a reality. 

This accomplished, rapid strides will be ;nade in completing the entire plan, at 
which time -we coutidently expect sericulture will compete for honors with other 
agricultural pursuits of the Staie. Early in the season, as is more fully set forth in 
the report of, the President of the Board, the necessity arose for a home market for 
cocoons, and this society at once concluded to do the work of purchasing cocoons, 
hitherto done by The State board. At a meeting of the board of directors, held 
May 2. sufficient fimds were appropriated from the Government allowance to carry 
on the work. Acting as corresi)ondiiig as well as recording secretary, my labors 
were greatly increased, but I have gained a better knowledge of the quantity and 
quality of cocoons produced. In the production of cocoons nearly every portion of 
the State has been represented with sufficient good results to prove the adaptability 
of soil and climate to the perfection of this industry. 

On the whole the quality is not up to the standard, and better results must be ob- 
tained, during the year I have distributed 150 circulars and books of instruction, 
and replied to 360 letters of inquiry, often exchanging two or three letters with the 
same parties as difficulties arose, and still their work was neither satisfactory to 
themselves or to us. I would therefore recommend a liberal distribution of printed 
circulars, giving full instructions, early in the season, and I would faver paying good 
prices where there is evidence of careful, earnest effort, and soon the standard of ex- 
cellence will be attained. In the absence of a filature, correspondence was opened for 
marketing the cocoons, with the result of a decision favoring Washington. The co- 
coon committee and various other committees are in the midst of their labors, there- 
fore unable to report fully at the present time. Full reports will be made to the so- 
ciety at the annual meeting in January, as provided by the constitution. I have an 
abiding faith in the ultimate success of our work, and, in closing, would again solicit 
the liberality of the Government to a degree that will enable us to continue in this 
important work toward perfecting the industry already established, and so well 
adapted to women and children who are clamoring for independence, and not 
charity. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt, 
Ladies' Silk Culture Society. 



REPORT OF EXPERIMENTAL COMMITTEE. 

To the Ladies' Silk Culture Soeietij of California : 

The silk experiment for 1889 was began at the Piedmont Station on April 17th, the 
operator being Mr. L. E. Benton, a student at the University of California, the whole 
being superintended by myself as chairman of the committee of silk culture, and 
directed by said committee, the members of which being Mrs. Hittell, Mrs. Williams, 
Mrs. Pratt, Professor Hilgard and the President of the society, Mr. Ewer. 

The experiment was made with the seed of the most select variety of the silk- 
worms, viz, the Friularni, it being the whitest in color and the largest cocoon pro- 
ducer. The experiment, however, of this year can not be considered as jjerfect as 
the capabilities of the variety and which was promised by the conditions of the ear- 
lier transformations of the vario.us broods. If the Piedmont Station could have sup- 
plied sufficient foliage of improved varieties of mulberry-trees, such as Morus alba, 
or M. rosea, or M. nagasaki, the society might have rejoiced in an entirely satisfac- 
tory experiment; but the supply becoming short when it should have been increased, 
this, together with having to return to Morus multicaulis after having fed upon M. 
alba, is one of the causes for the lightness in weight of many of the cocoons. The 
society owes to Mrs. Williams its best thanks for aiding the experiment by sending 
almost a daily supply of leaves, thou^'h the irregular delivery of theiu by the ex- 
press compjiny deteriorate<l Their (jiuility. 

The buddintrand i>rittino of Tin- old strvks with imiiroved sD'fs of mulberrips would 
make rlmstaMnii at I'ii^d M.mt a more s'lii.i'.le ))l:i(e to (miiv oh silk culture. The 
stove, too. i-i 11 iT ;iT ;iP sii i t,i M ;• r )r lieilin^' i» iii) ses .lu.l f>r regulaiiug U!iiii>eratiire 
for the ciilii\ atioti of the Nilk-worm. 



24 women's silk culture association. 

The worms began spinning on May tbli 20tb, being 32 days in going through 
their changes, a period that was slightly prolonged by irregularity in the food sup- 
ply. The weight of the cocoons I do not know, but they are at the Piedmont Sta- 
tion .awaiting the order of the society as to their disposal. The cocoons that can 
he reeled are contained in twelve pasteboard boxes covered with green paper and 
marked "Piedmont Station, Silk Experiment, lf^89." The size of each box is the 
■same, 14 by 12 inches. The pierced cocoons occupy a white pasteboard box measur- 
ing 24 by 12 inches, and the flossings are to be found in a brown pasteboard box of 
the measure of 20 by 9 inches. The above mentioned are all at Piedmont. I now 
place in charge of the secretary of this society a selected assortment of two hundred 
<;ocoous agreeable to the order of the committee on silk culture, for the purpose of 
"being forwarded to Washington for inspection. Of course these two hundred repre- 
sent a higher grade than the general bulk, but though they are selected they are not 
necessarily better than many of those forming the general stock, for these were not 
<3ulled from all the others, but simply represent the lirst two hundred good ones that 
■came to hand, and there remains iu all probability a thousand others that are equally 
good in quality. 

Besides the above I retain for the museum of the university a small exhibit of about 
fifty examples, and I bring with me to-day the few cocoons that formed the experi- 
ment of killing by anhydrous hydrocyanic acid. 

EGGS. 

The stock of eggs for the society's use or order was made in accordance with the 
instructions of the committee, and a little beyond. The committee came to the con- 
clusion that an ounce of eggs would be sufiicieut for the next year's experiment. 
These are contained in 200 bags, a selected pair of moths in each bag, being the pro- 
ducers of about 50(1 eggs. Besides the above-mentioned eggs I set apart for experi- 
ment, a number of double cocoons, and fiuding that double cocoons yielded very 
healthy looking moths, I paired a number of these nu)ths and caused them to deposit 
their eggs upon huge surfaces of line muslin. From the line condition of these inyects 
I believe them to be in ev ry way good for breediug purposes for the production of 
silk, the moth being perfect iu forin, without the deformity of crippled wings, and 
appeared to be iu general good health. The amount of eggs thus obtained may be 
three ounces and from examination under the microscope I find these eggs from 
double cocoons to be free from disease. 

FEEDING SILK- WORMS. 

The silk-worm having been under domestication for centuries and frequently 
reared under uunatural conditions, it is not surprising that diseases are freely in- 
duced among them. The worms in nature have a completely free system of. sewer- 
age, feeding as they do u^ou twigs, and, elevated from the ground and iu contact 
with no accumulated refu.se, they must have immunity from many of the forms of 
disease that are generated in them while under domestic treatment. 

Herding a large number of worms upon a horizontal plane is entirely opposed to 
the methods adopted by nature, for she sup})lie8 the worms with varying resting- 
places at all possible angles, where excrement of every kind fall freely to the ground 
'without any contamination to neighboring worms. 

I think that trial should be made of feeding upon twigs after the first moult, and 
Tvhen twigs are unobtainable and leaves alone available that netting on frames 
should always be substituted, that theexcremeut should be free to fall to the ground. 

METHODS OF DESTROYING THE LIFE OF THE CHRYSALIS. 

Several methods of killiug the chrysalids were tried for experimental purposes. 
It was found that five minutes was sutiScient to kill- iu dry steam when the layer of 
•cocoons was only two deep, but ten or fifteen minutes was found necessary according 
to the depth of layer of cocoons and also the amount of saturation. 

Carbon bisulphide proved a A'ery effective method, using an empty coal-oil can, 
■which nearly fill with cocoons, and place on the top of these a cup with a piece of 
spimge iu it, upon which pour an ounce of the bisulphide, and close the can by means 
•of paste and paper and let remain for twelve hours. 

Anhydrous prussic acid (hydrocyauir) proved most powerful, and consequently 
quick iu operation ; but it being dangerous to the user and causing decomposition to 
vegetable stains, that occur more or less upon cocoons, and chnnging these stains 
into a permnuent bhick dye, tiie use (tf liiis Mcid is not to be recoiunieuded, hhongh it 
juiiilit be atlvaiil.-infons to do so vlici: tiie .--ilk is to l)e dved black. 



women's silk culture association. 25 

SPECULATIONS UPON A NEW VARIETY. 

During tlie selection of the moths that were to produce eggs for future experi- 
ments there were large numbers of examples that pQssessed only rudimentary wings. 
These examples were rejected and thrown out as being unworthy of reproducing 
their species. After I had destroyed tbem I thought my action in the matter was a 
mistake, and that had I thought of it in time and have selected a number and made 
a distinct experiment results might have proved an advance in silk culture. These 
forms of both sexes were in the enjoyment of good health, and differed from the 
others only in having very short tippet-like wings, that could not aid in navigating 
the air, and which condition was brought about, no doubt, by continued domestica- 
tion inducing a terrestrial habit. The loss of the powers of flight may be exchanged 
in the increase of silk, and as there is no waste of force in either seeking mates 
or food, both being supplied under domestication, an entirely apterous (wingless) 
variety of silk- worm might be the outcome of judicious selection. 

Among the group of insects that silk-worms are classified with are two or three 
genera of species that possess these tippet-like wings, but the wingless condition 
occurs only in the female ; the male flies freely about, while the female remains 
always at home. 

The loss of a power through the nouuse of that power is not a new theory, but 
the condition, as 1 mentioned before, already exists in some near allies of this silk- 
producing race of moths. 

The examination of the parent moth and eggs belonging to this experiment not 
having been completed has been made the subject of a supplementary report. 
Very truly, 

J. J. Rivers, 

September 7, 1889 ' Chairman Experimental Committee. 



SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. 

To the Ladies' Silk Culture Society of California : 

I beg to report the result of the miscroscopical examination of the "200 pairs of par 
ent moths selected from those belonging to the silk experiment carried on at the sta- 
tion at Piedmont during this present season of 1889. 

The object of the society was to make a good and careful experiment not only in 
the production of good cocoons but also to acclimatize certain varieties of the silk- 
producing moth Bomhyx Mori, so that the society could distribute healthy and robust 
eggs to those cultivating the silk industry in California. 

The experiment in this respect has proved satisfactorj'. Of a total of 200 pairs 
{200 males and 20i) females), 180 pairs were found to be perfectly free from disease. 
The remaining 20 pairs exhibited some bacterian bodies that resembled the disease 
explained by Pasteur as chain-ferment and which he considers the cause of flaccidity 
and which is supposed to be engendered by the use of fermented leaves, there was no 
appearance of pebrine or any other disease appertaining to sericulture but the one 
mentioned above. 

During the experiment Mr. Benton discovered some unhealthy worms which he 
considered flaccidity and which made its appearance soon after feeding the worms 
with transported leaves. Of course those diseased worms were destroyed as soon as 
found, but others unperceived, because only slightly affected, passed into the moth 
state to be discovered only under the microscope. Though the parent moths of these 
20 pairs exhibit the disease called flaccidity, yet an examination of their eggs does 
not disclose any appearance that would even suggest disease, but ou tbe contrary 
were healthy looking in every particular; but as the parent moths show disease 
their eggs must be rejected. 

I beg to report the above for the consideration of the Ladies' Silk Culture Society 
of California. 

Respectfully, yours, 

J. J. Rivers, 
Chairman Experimenlal Committee. 



26 



women's silk culture association. 



Ladies' Silk Culture Society of California, in Account with Department of Agriculture — 

credit by hills j^aid. 



[Statement of expenditures during Dr. Gibbons's term of oifice.] 



>a 



90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

95a 

95& 

95c 

95d 

95e 

Wg 

95h 



100 

101 

102 

103 

103a 

104 

105 

106 



Date. 



1888. 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 2 
Dec 6 
Dec. 10 
Dec. 10 
Dec. 10 
Aug. 2 
Dec. 6 
Dec. 6 
Dec. 6 
Dec. 6 
Dec. 
Aug. 
July 

1889 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 



To whom paid. 



Otto Hagland 

Daniel Reardon 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt 

W. G. W. Harford 

do 

Otto Hagland 

Puget Sound Lumber Co — 

Frank Halley 

William P. Gibbons 

Mrs. L. Pratt -. 

do 

do 

do 

"William P. Gibbons 

J. B. Vasburg 

V.S.Northey 



"W.G.W. Harford... 

Blaire 

Pierce & Co 

J. D. Southwell 

Charles -f. Welch... 
Baker & Hamilton.. 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt 

do 

do 

William P. Gibbons. 

Alameda Bank 

W.G. W. Haiford... 



Total 



Items. 



Labor at station 

do 

Salary as secretary, July 

Salary and board of laborers 

do 

Labor at station 

Lumber 

Shoeing horses 

Balance on sundries 

Salary as secretary, August 

Salary as secretary, September - 

Salary as secretary, October 

Salary as secretary, November.. 
Balance on account rendered. .. 

Sundries noted in voucher 

Ironing well.bucket 



Salary, etc., noted in voucher ., 

Sharpening picks, etc 

Giant caitridgps and caps 

Examining well 

Feed 

Pole, pick, and handles 

Postals and postage 

Salary as secretary, December. 
Salary as secretary, January . . 
Board of horses and telegrams. 

Discount im note 

Salary at station 



Amonnt. 



[Statement of expenditures during Mr. Ewer's incumbency, ending June 30, 1889. J 



107 
108 
109 
110 
111 
112 
113 
114 
115 
116 
117 
118 
119 
120 
121 
122 
123 
124 
125 
126 
127 
128 
129 
130 
131 
132 
133 
134 
136 
136 
137 
138 
139 
140 
141 
142 
143 
144 



1880 




Apr. 


4 


Apr. 


4 


Apr. 


4 


Apr. 


4 


Apr. 


4 


Apr. 


4 


May 


2 


May 


2 


May 


2 


May 


2 


May- 


2 


May 


2 


May 


2 


May 


2 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


•June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 


6 


June 





June 





June 


6 


June 


6 1 



William P. Gibbons Statement brought over 

, do Board of horse 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt Salary as secretary, February . . . 

W. G. W.Harford Salary at station 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt i Salary as secretary, March 

Samuel A. Luce ! Salary at station 

M. L. Gray Plowing, hire, and feed of te^ms. 

Mrs. L.E.Pratt ; Postal-cards and postage 

do I Salary as secretary, April 

Samuel A. Luce j Salary at station 

L. E. Benton Tending worms 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt | Stationery, stamps, and cards. 

M. L. Gray 

W. B. Ewer 

do 

Samuel A. Luce. 

L. E. Benton 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt 

W. B. Ewer 

N. S. Thompson 



Pierce & Co i Hard 



Harrowing and cultivating. 
Supplies at station, noted in voucher. 

Cocoons and espresaage 

Salary at station, May 

Tending worms • 

Salary at secretary, May 

Supplies noted in voucher 

Drug poison 



J. Fisher. 

M. Wright 

Otto H. Putzker 

F. A. Leach 

C. W. Howard 

Mrs. S. Spratt 

Mrs. J. B. Babcock 

Mrs. L. Nilson 

Miss Hattie Robinson . 

Mamie E. York 

Mrs. B. F. Ohriger 

Mrs. Mary F. Walker. 

Miss Davenhill 

Miss Evrlyn Craig 

Mrn. (j. K()«,-< 

Miss Lizzit^ lloUins...- 

B. C. Pressli-v 

Mis. G. W. Kullrr .. . 



Batley 

Drayage to station 

Labor at station 

Cocoons 

Drayage of cocoons at station. 

Cocoons 

do 



do 

, do 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

.... .In 
d.> . 

a.) 

do 

do 



WOMEN.S SILK CULTURE ASSOCIATION. 



27 



Ladies' Silk Culture Societij of California, in account with Department of Af/riculture — 
credit hy bills paid — Continued. 



a a 



145 
146 
147 
148 
149 
150 
151 
152 
153 
154 
155 
156 
157 
158 
159 
160 
161 
162 
163 
164 
165 
166 
167 
168 
169 
170 
171 
172 
173 
174 
175 
176 
177 
178 
179 



Date. 



1889. 
June 29 
Juue 29 
Juiif 29 
June 29 
Juue 29 
June 29 
Juue 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 2 9 
Juue 29 
June 29 
Juue 29 
Juue 29 
June 29 
Juue 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
June 29 
Junn 29 
June 29 
Juue 29 
June 29 



To whom paiil. 



Mrs. J. Lucas 

Piof. J. J. Kivers 

Samuel A.Luce 

Mr.s. S. A. Sellers 

Alameda County 

Mia. L. E. Pratt 

Columbus P>ugs;y Co 

C. Cliaiulierlain 

Miss O Abraius 

Miss E. n. Bijielow 

Henry Hasnrd 

Miss Lizzie Cakebread .. 

Mrs. M J. Wells 

K. B. Williams 

FiMucis M. Bastian 

Mrs. S. E. Hathaway 

A. Aanew ' 

Mis. C. B. White 

J. Fi.sher 

Mis. D. Fike 

Mi.ss Nellie Turner 

Puget Sound Lumber Co. 

Prof. J. J. Rivers 

Mrs. L. E. Pratt 

M. Ban- 

Samuel A.Luce 

Felix Gillet 

Mrs. H. B. Churchman... 

Charles Blair 

Boaqui Enjiraving Co 

John Irving 

Katie J. Collier 

Prof. J. J. Rivers 

H. H. Everett 

Miss Jane Uodd 



Items. 



Amonnt. 



Instruction book 

Experimental work 

Salary at station, June 

Cocoons . . . 

Taxes 

Salary as secretary, June 

Buggy and harness : 

Flossing cocoons and board of laborers 

Cocoons 

do 



Total 



do 

do 

do 

do 

do.. 

do 

do 

do 

Contract for feed - 

Cocoons 

do 

Contract for 1 umber 

Microscopical work 

Supplies for Ex. noted in voucher. 

Horseshoeing 

Freighting cocoons to st;ition 

Mulbeiry buds 

Cocoons 

Labor contract 

Printing contract 

Cocoons 

do 

Boxes for cocoons 

Coroous 

do 



$1.10 
50.00 

65. no 

40. 00 
44.50 

;)0. 00 

110.00 

18.00 

63. 70 

8.40 

4.30 

5.50 

5.00 

5.00 

9.00 

26.00 

4.50 

5.75 

50.00 

13.00 

50. 50 

103. 07 

75.00 

5.00 

2.00 

2.90 

6.00 

.70 

54.60 

50.00 

.50 

1.50 

1.25 

1.00 

1.00 



2, 500. 00 



RECAPITULATION. 

Paid by Dr. Gibbons $729.35 

Paid since, as per voucher 1, 770.65 

Tot.nl - 2, .500. OO 

Received from Government 2, 500. OO 

Examined and found to be correct. 

San Francisco, October 15, 1889. 

R. J. Trumbull, 
Edward Bosqui, 

Auditing Committee. 



REPORT OF JOSEPH NEUMANN. 



Washington, D. C, December 31, 1889. 
Sir: I bave the honor to present herewith my report upon the sub- 
ject of the native wild silk-worm, as required of me by public act No. 
116 of the laws enacted in the secoiid session of the Fiftieth Congress, 
whicli reads as follows: 

AN ACT making an appropriation for tlie Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1890, and for other purpoaes. 

For the coutinuatioji of the study and experiments by Joseph Neumann of the wild 
native silk^.vorm of California, two thousand live hundred dollars, to be jiaid directly 
to said Joseph Neumann; and the said Joseph Neumann shall report the renulle of 
such work to the Secretary of Agriculture on or before the first day of January, 
eighteen hundred and ninety. 

r also submit with this report a number of cocoons, being samples of 
a quantity obtained by me, the result of experiments made during the 
past year. These cocoons are in themselves convincing proof that the 
wild silk-worm discovered by me in California in 1884 is really valuable 
and its cultivation promises beneficent results. 

In continuing my study and researches 1 visited Santa Clara County, 
■Cal., in the early i^art of the year, and also Mount Hamilton and 
the surroundings of the Lick Observatory. Unfortunately the season 
was late, the weather cold and generally unfavorable and the worm 
could not be found there. I then visited other sections of the State, 
*^specially Sonoma County, where I had found the wild silk-worm in 
former years, but also with poor results, for I discovered but a few of 
them. The reason for their scarcity in this neighborhood was dis- 
covered in the fact that curiosity-seekers wanted specimens of the 
worm, and a large number of people, especially boys, had been hunting 
and doing a thriving business in them. The same condition applied 
to San Francisco, where the worm used to be found in large numbers. 

Fortunately I had quite a number of live cocoons of the wild silk- 
worm in my possession, which i)assed through the process of breeding. 
I was thus enabled to put large numbers of young worms on bushes of 
the wild holly, both in the open air and in jnclosed rooms. Those in the 
rooms I fed on branches of said plant, the stems of which I kept in 
water, and in that condition they remained good food for four or five 
■days. While the worm would be better preserved in a room than in 
the open air, it has been demonstrated that it is hardier and thrives 
much better in the open air. 

This wild silk-worm is the only one, so far found, whose culture in 
the open air is successful. It feeds upon a species of " Cascara 
Sagrada," or wild holly, that grows in great abundance throughout the 
more temperate regions of California, indigenously, and can be produced 

28 



women's silk culture association. 29* 

successfully from the liiie of Jacksou Couuty, Oregon, to Xew Orleans, 
where the altitude does not render its growth impracticable. The same 
climate and conditions requisite to its growth can be found in many 
portions of Arizona and New Mexico. The limite«l time that I have 
had for making experiments has rendered it impossible for me to deter- 
mine what the best and surest plan will be to ])ropagate this plant upon 
which the wild silk-worm feeds — whether by transplanting the scions in 
an orchard or grove, or from the seed. This important fact must be de- 
termined by experiments made in the proi)er way when sufiticient time 
is allowed for the proi)er tests. But as the "wild holly" grows abun- 
dantly and indigenously all through the region of country adapted cli- 
matically to the ])roduction of silk, I do not hesitate to say that the 
plants can be easily and successfully produced by either method. 

The season through which the wild silk-worm can be successfully 
worked is from two and a half to three months. Later in the year, the 
latter part of September, 1 exhibited the food plant, live worms, and 
cocoons raised during the past season at the fair in Sacramento, Cal., 
held by the state board of agriculture; and 1 may add that the exhibi- 
tion attracted general attention of a very favorable character. 

The cocoons produced bj' the wild silk-worm, as demonstrated by the 
samples submitted herewith, are in reality silk, and they are precisely 
of the same kind as that which originally came from the East Indies' 
and which in its manufactured state is known under the name of " pon- 
gee" silk, and has grown to be a very large factor in commerce. Thou- 
sands of bales are annually exported from the East Indies. In former 
years it was not much used, the French alone utilizing it for "chop," 
which means a short-fiber spun silk. They became more valuable in 
this country when the Messrs. Cheney Brothers, of Connecticut, and 
the Messrs, Riley, of Paterson, N. J., began to use the short fiber for 
spun silk. They are still more valuable now, as a machine has been 
invented in France for reeling the cocoons into long fiber, the same as 
the mulberry species. A skein of the long hber is submitted herewith 
for proof. 

If the fiber of the native wild silk-worm cocoon were good only for 
spun silk, or if it were even only fit for the manufacture of fine paper, 
the discovery would still have to be classed as a valuable one, but as 
reeled it is nearly as valuable as mulberry silk. I have never claimed 
and do not now claim that the texture of the fiber of the native worm 
is equal to that of the mulberry species ; but it certainly equals the 
silk of the East Indies, audits production can not fail'to be of immense 
benefit to this country. The culture of the mulberry species on the 
American continent, which was first attempted about two hundred and 
thirty years ago, has so tar comparatively few results to show because 
of rhe ^reat op|)Osition and competition of foreign producers; but the 
culture of the native worm promises rich rewards in the immediate 
future if properly cared for by the Government. 

For further information as to my work in developing the wild silk- 
worm of California 1 refer you to the jihotographic view taken of the 
worms fed by me last season and to the live cocoons, as well as the 
cocoons of the previous year's production, together with the observa- 
tions of the press of California, whom I invited to witness my opera- 
tions ; all of which will be found in the office of the Assistant Secretary 
of Agriculture. 

I most respectfully recouimend the establishment of two experimental 
stations in the State of California ; one of them should be located on 
the Government military reservation known as the Presidio, in the city 



30 women's silk culture association. 

of San Francisco. It was in the vickiity of this reservation that the 
wild silk-worm was first discovered in the year 1884. The reason why 
I advocate the establishment of a station here is that there are still a 
great many plants in the immediate vicinity upon which the worm 
feeds; but Uiey are bein^ uprooted by the owners of these lands, who 
are preparing the latter for sale as building lots. It would not be very 
expensive to transplant them to the Presidio for i)reservation and thus 
provide food fur the worms. 

A second station should be established in the interior of the State, 
where the season is earlier and wliere no fogs interfere with the culture 
of the worms or with the experiments. 

In my opinion the cocoons produced in the interior of the State are 
somewhat heavier than those produced in the city. The season is so 
much earlier in th^ interior that the work there could be completed 
before the hatching season begins at San Francisco, where the climate 
is ujuch colder, so that the same laborers could perform much of the 
work at both stations. By the results of the experiments on these two 
stations would be demonstrated the financial value of the culture of 
the native wild silk worm. 

I most respectfully call your attention to the bills on the subject for 
the development of silk culture of the mulberry species, introduced by 
Hon. J. M. Mitchell, of Oregon, in the Senate and by the Hon. W. W. 
Morrow, of California, in the House of Representatives. They are la 
accordance v. ith my views and ideas for the promotion of silk culture. 
Your most obedient servant, 

Joseph Neumaisn. 

Hon. J. M. Rusk, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 



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